In the age of digital streaming and instant access to music, there has been a surprising and welcome resurgence in the popularity of vinyl records. Music enthusiasts and collectors have rediscovered the warm, analog sound and the tangible, tactile experience that vinyl offers. The ritual of carefully handling a record, placing it on the turntable, and immersing oneself in the music has a timeless appeal that transcends generations.
However, as the demand for vinyl records continues to grow, so does the awareness of the sustainability challenges and how we make those beloved poppy and crackling platters of joy.
The process of manufacturing vinyl records has remained mostly unchanged. One of the primary environmental concerns associated with their production is their use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastic with a substantial carbon footprint. Vinyl records produce around 1.9 thousand tons of carbon dioxide for every 4 million records manufactured. Now, breaking out our handy calculator, with nearly 50 million pieces of vinyl sold in 2023 alone, we know that records produced around 23,750 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. PVC production also requires significant energy and releases harmful pollutants into the environment, such as dioxins and phthalates.
