Taylor Swift’s latest album has contributed to the highest weekly vinyl sales in three decades. However, as the popularity of owning records resurfaces, concerns arise about the environmental impact of this trend. The plastic traditionally used to make vinyl records, PVC (poly vinyl chloride), is not environmentally friendly. Additionally, the rise in vinyl sales has also raised concerns over packaging.
Rou Reynolds, frontman for the chart-topping rock band Enter Shikari, believes that leading artists have a responsibility to push for change. In an interview with Billboard in March, singer Billie Eilish criticized the “wasteful” nature of producing multiple vinyl packages for one album. Reynolds agrees with this criticism, stating that it will only be resolved once BioVinyl becomes the standard material used for vinyl production. BioVinyl is made from renewable sources such as cooking oil or wood pulp, rather than non-biodegradable PVC pellets.
According to Reynolds, “Traditional vinyl is an oil-based product. No one wants to support the extraction of more fossil fuels.” In response to this issue, Enter Shikari now requires all their records to be made with BioVinyl. Reynolds is optimistic that if more artists demand eco-friendly materials for their records, it will become the new industry standard. He believes that independent artists can ignite this change, leading to a ripple effect within the industry.
Vinyl production experts are also urging the music industry to take notice. Karen Emanuel, CEO of Key Production, the UK’s largest broker for physical music production, states that “the advances that have been made [in vinyl production] are incredible.” She adds that significant progress has been made in reducing the carbon footprint of vinyl through the use of renewable materials. However, the main hurdle at the moment is the cost. Emanuel explains, “It’s a bit more expensive to manufacture, but if enough people use it, the price point will come down.”
The question remains, will fans be willing to pay more for environmentally friendly vinyl? Lee Jefferies, owner of Sonic Wax Pressing, a vinyl pressing plant, believes that ultimately, the cost will have to be shared by either the consumer, artists, or labels. However, a recent survey conducted by Key Production found that over two-thirds of vinyl buyers would be encouraged to purchase more records if they were made with a reduced environmental impact. The survey also revealed that the majority of regular vinyl customers are willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly alternatives.
While vinyl may seem like an environmentally unfriendly option, some argue that the focus should also be on other aspects of the music industry, such as streaming services. Figures from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) estimate that global vinyl sales last year produced about 156k tonnes of CO2 emissions. In comparison, Spotify, responsible for about a third of the market, estimates that its own carbon emissions were 280k tonnes last year. This is due to the vast amounts of electricity used to power its data storage servers.
For Reynolds, the potential to make vinyl production more sustainable is exciting. He states, “It has the same quality, the same appearance, you really wouldn’t notice the difference, which is incredible.” He believes that this is a prime example that society doesn’t have to sacrifice luxuries to transition towards a greener future. “All it takes is some thought, adaptation, and adoption,” he adds. It is now up to the music industry to take note and make changes for a greener future.
