A new report outlines the environmental damage caused by vinyl record emissions — and it's not great, but there's some good news too.
Vinyl record release
a New reports from Vinyl Record Manufacturers Association (VRMA) and Vinyl Alliance overview The environmental impact of vinyl record productionPackaging is also included.
stated Long-term goals The objectives of the two groups are Understanding carbon impacts The first report on the “cradle to grave” vinyl pressing industry, from pressing to disposal,The gate from the cradle to the factory“The footprint of a vinyl record, Press Factory, Stamper Maker,and Lacquer carving workshop.
According to the report: Footprint Standard 140g vinyl record about 1.15 kg CO2ethis is, 1 pint of milkContinuing with the breakfast analogy, boiling 1 litre of water in an electric kettle to make coffee or tea consumes 70 kg CO2e, while growing oranges and delivering them to your home requires 90 kg CO2e. Note that the 1.15 kg CO2e for a vinyl record is only consumed at the various stages of production and does not include shipping.
Vinyl Record Emissions: Emissions Breakdown
According to the report: 50% of manufacturing emissions Coming from PVC Compound It was used to press records. 180g heavyweight vinyl increase Carbon dioxide emissions 14% Compared to 140g, 200 grams Will bring it up 19%If you wish splatter vinyl This is an increasingly common phenomenon, 26%.
More specifically, 30% Cradle to Factory Gate Footprint Factory Energy Consumptionmeanwhile Printed Package Jackets, inserts and sleeves 13% Emissions from vinyl records.
The report does not include transportation costs, but the authors note that “records Air transport from From Europe to America (or vice versa) It is another 1.36 kg CO2e Air freight is From Europe to Australia Add 3.46 kg CO2e “Per record.”
Vinyl Record Emissions: Steps to Reduce Your Environmental Impact
The report is not all doom and gloom. 5 steps to reduce your carbon footprint The author of the vinyl record Abolition of air freight transport (Local Press) switching new “Bio-attribute” PVC compounds To Up to 44% smaller footprintpress and hold 140g vinyl, Keep your packaging simple (Gatefold sleeves increase by 10-15%) Towards zero carbon energy At the factory.
Vinyl Record Release: What about Streaming?
As for whether Streaming has a lower environmental impact More so than vinyl manufacturing, that remains to be seen.
“It remains to be seen whether buying physical records has a worse environmental impact than streaming music,” the report said, “but it provides the first verified data from the recording industry to help address this issue.”
This report is aimed at manufacturers and retailers involved in the recording industry. Consumer To Consider In the same way.
What do you think about these findings? Will you change your buying habits?