Coldplay are re-releasing all of their albums as EcoRecords, which are physical discs made from recycled plastic bottles, putting the spotlight on moves across the music industry to release more environmentally sustainable physical products.
The EcoRecords, set for release in August, are Coldplay's latest attempt to reduce the environmental impact of their output. They have already implemented an assortment of measures to make their touring activity more sustainable, resulting, according to the band's label Parlophone, in them “cutting the carbon footprint of their ‘Music Of The Spheres World Tour’ by 59% to date”.
The EcoRecords, the label adds, are “made from recycled plastic bottles” and “produced using injection-moulding technology” which “reduces carbon emissions during manufacture by an impressive 85% compared with traditional vinyl production”.
Of course, plenty of other artists are also working to make their output more environmentally sustainable, though it's good for big names like Coldplay to raise awareness of what is possible, while also experimenting with different options and sharing the results with other artists, labels and promoters.
One company that is a pioneer in this domain is Key Production Group. Its CEO Karen Emanuel tells CMU that, while Coldplay have “done a great job in bringing attention to some of the innovative ways in which artists, labels and the supply chain are collaborating to look for ways to reduce the impact of manufacturing a record, there are a number of different options also available”.
Running through some of those options, Emanuel adds, “in traditional manufacturing artists can now choose from bio-attributed PVC, reground vinyl made from manufacturing offcuts, and standard 140g vinyl - rather than heavyweight - all of which reduce environmental impact without compromising audio quality”.
The costs of these more eco-friendly options have come down in recent years, Emanuel explains, resulting in “more eco-friendly options becoming more mainstream”. For example, “reground vinyl is often no more expensive than standard coloured vinyl”.
Other artists taking this approach include King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, who, Emanuel says, “released special editions of their catalogue using reground vinyl, creating unique colour blends while cutting waste”. Meanwhile bio-attributed PVC records “have been used by Enter Shikari recently, and The Divine Comedy are using it on their upcoming album”.
Drew Hill, Managing Director at Proper Music Distribution, confirms that his company is also happy to support anyone in the music industry “who chooses to put out low emission products”, although he does caution artists and labels to consider the pros and cons of different approaches.
Some records “made out of recycled plastic” have “resulted in poor sound quality and it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that we are ultimately making a sound carrier”, he adds. However, as well as prices coming down, the technology also seems to be improving, which is a good thing. Hill adds, “it’s great to see Coldplay continuing to innovate in this area”.
Back at Parlophone, Managing Director Jen Ivory says the Coldplay releases are “a testament to what's possible when innovation meets intention. It’s not just about a new product; it’s about pioneering manufacturing that significantly reduces environmental impact, providing fans with the same high-quality audio experience while setting a new standard for physical music production”.