The study outlines five strategies to reduce the carbon impact.
Photo Credit: Mink Mingle on Unsplash
The VRMA and Vinyl Alliance have released a report on the vinyl industry’s environmental impact. The ‘First Carbon Footprinting Report’ analyzes carbon emissions in vinyl record production.
The study reveals that a vinyl record’s “cradle-to-factory gate” carbon footprint is about 1.15kg CO2e. This breaks down to 50% from PVC, 30% from manufacturing energy, and 13% from packaging.
Distribution, especially air freight, significantly increases the carbon footprint. Air shipping from Europe to America adds 1.36 kg CO2e, while to Australia it adds a whopping 3.46 kg CO2e per record.
To put this in perspective, a vinyl record’s carbon footprint exceeds that of a laundry load or a pint of milk but is less than an 8oz steak.
The report proposes five strategies to reduce carbon impact: eliminating air freight, using bio-attributed PVC, producing lighter pressings, simplifying packaging, and employing zero-carbon energy in production. Consumers can contribute by supporting the second-hand vinyl market and choosing records made with bio-attributed PVC.
Despite potential industry challenges, market research shows promise. A striking 69% of vinyl buyers would increase purchases of sustainable options, with 77% willing to pay more for eco-friendly records.
Read the full report here.
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