According to estimates, the UK’s vinyl consumption generates as much pollution as 400 individuals annually.
However, Billie Eilish’s latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, which was released on Friday, aims to break the record.
Recycled or eco-vinyl will be used to press the albums, and recycled materials will also be used to make the packaging.
Its potential impact is questioned given that it is connected to a massive global tour.
However, Billie is eager to avoid playing the villain and has received recognition for bringing up sustainability in the music business.
The singer stated to Billboard last month that she and her group were making every effort to reduce waste “in every aspect” of her work.
“My parents have always kept me well informed and hyper-aware that every choice we make and every action we take has an impact somewhere or on someone, good or bad, and that has always stuck with me,” she stated.
The process of making records more sustainable was shown to BBC Newsbeat behind closed doors at a record press in South Wigston, Leicestershire.
Key Production CEO Karen Emanuel remarks, “Factories are so different from when I first started.” Key Production manufactures vinyl.
The elements are the most crucial. PVC is a sort of plastic used to make records, and it takes millennia for it to break down.
And oil, a fossil fuel, is a crucial component.
Karen claims that biofuels are being used in place of fossil fuels to make the plastic granules that are the building blocks of records at facilities like Sonic Wax, which supplies Key Production.
According to Karen, biofuels, which are renewable and frequently derived from vegetable oils, can reduce emissions from this phase of the process by up to 90%.
After the plastic granules are obtained, they are melted to form pucks, which are further heated to high temperatures and imprinted on records.
Records that don’t perform up to par as well as leftovers from this procedure can be melted down and used again.
“Those trimmings can be reground into vinyl again,” Karen says.
“So when people talk about using recycled vinyl, what they really mean is they’re using the reground that’s coming off the machine.”
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According to Karen, vinyl that has previously been used and pressed into records cannot currently be recycled using this method since it would require specific chemical cleaning.
That is something the business is considering for the future, though.
In addition to the environmental impact of producing the physical record, there are other factors to consider, such as how the finished product is transported and disposed of.
Karen claims that vinyl has “hugely different” transportation emissions when compared to, example, CDs.
“There’s a lot less material in a CD for example,” she continues. “With vinyl, it’s a large, quite heavy thing.”
Manufacturers such as Key Production try to lessen that by encouraging their customers to choose lighter records.
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“We suggest that individuals adhere to 140g,” adds Karen.
Some 180g special versions are available, but according to Karen, “you’re not going to be able to tell the difference” unless you have extremely expensive sound equipment.
She claims that shaving 40g off a single record can build up over the course of a shipment, resulting in lighter batches to transport and hence lower emissions.
Still, would it be preferable to simply not purchase the item at all?
It might not be as easy as that.
The best environmentally friendly way to listen to music may depend on your personal preferences, according to research from Staffordshire’s Keele University.
Although streaming frequently appears to have little environmental impact, Spotify’s most recent impact report shows that their overall emissions in 2023 amounted to 280,355 metric tons of greenhouse gases.
The amount of energy required to store data on computers, send tracks across a network, and charge and power our devices all adds up.
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If you simply listen to a song a few times, streaming is still considered to be the best choice. Nonetheless, physical record copies are probably a more sustainable option for fans who listen to music repeatedly.
Additionally, Billie is restricting the number of vinyl varieties she releases to eight in order to reduce overconsumption and the market for collectibles.
Karen says, “Vinyl is made to keep.”
Indeed, the product is made of plastic. However, that product is now produced in a more environmentally friendly manner and will always exist.
“It’s not like we’re wasting it. It is purchased and enjoyed.”
Even while used records can’t be recycled into new ones just yet, there are still uses for them after we’re through with them.
According to Karen, vintage recordings can be transformed into commonplace objects like home pipes, however they may not be as glamorous.
Karen admits there’s still work to be done, even if she believes well-known figures like Billie have helped the business realize that change is necessary.
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Not to mention other facets of the music business, like touring.
Later this year, Billie will perform over 80 performances in North America, Australia, and Europe as part of her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour.
That leaves a large carbon footprint due to all the travel and high energy consumption.
The Oscar-winning singer is collaborating with Reverb, a nonprofit that supports sustainability in the music business, in an effort to lessen that impact.
During a previous tour, she collaborated with them to implement programs including cutting back on single-use plastics, providing plant-based food options, and allocating a portion of sales to support climate projects.
“I’ve seen an incredible change, just in the past few years,” Karen asserts.
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Raising people’s consciousness is the most crucial thing.
It’s great that some of the more well-known musicians are assuming that role. The big record labels must also take action on our behalf.”
