New report shows the carbon footprint for creating vinyl records

A new report has given an inside on the carbon footprint of each stage of vinyl production and what it could mean for the future of pressing.

The Vinyl Record Manufacturers Association and the Vinyl Alliance released a report earlier this week that gives a deeper look into the effect that the different stages of vinyl pressing have on the environment and the carbon footprint it carries. Vinyl has become incredibly popular this past decade to the point where it has made an entire resurgence in the mainstream. Between collector’s pieces and exceptional audio, it is now a huge part of an artist’s profit sales and a way to promote their work. With this comes an environmental impact as vinyl, unlike digital streaming, does use elements from the earth and takes working people to transfer the product to places around the world.

So, what is the carbon footprint of the different stages that it takes to create the vinyl we all know and love? The lifespan of the vinyl in the report is referred to as “cradle to grave,” meaning that the VRMA and the Vinyl Alliance are taking into consideration the moment the materials are sourced and manufactured for the vinyl, through its shipping time and use by the consumer, and then when it is disposed of. The study found that the life of a standard, black, 140g vinyl has a footprint of 1.15 kg CO2e. That number is slightly under the footprint that comes from a pint of cow’s milk, or think of it as a vinyl record having less carbon emissions than an 8oz steak.

The report gives five strategies to lower this carbon footprint: eliminating air freight, utilizing bio-attributed PVC, creating lighter pressings, streamlining packaging, and adopting zero-carbon energy in production. The report also states that the footprint for the records is increased by 14% for 180g, 19% for 200g, and if it has a special edition splatter design, that increases it to 26%. However, these methods seem like they could take place in the near future as market research from the report says that 69% of consumers would purchase more sustainable options, with 77% willing to pay extra for eco-friendly products.

So, in terms of the future of this industry, it seems that with the numbers that this report gives, we can expect a more eco-conscious process to produce these records in possible just a few years. However, it looks as if the same time, the consumer will also be receptive to this change.

You can view entire report here.