Is vinyl bad for the planet?
While streaming dominates the music consumption landscape, the enduring presence of vinyl records is undeniable. Once the exclusive gateway to owning and experiencing music, vinyl lost its footing with the advent of digitisation in the early 2000s. Yet, in a fascinating turn, recent years have witnessed a remarkable resurgence, elevating them once more to a coveted status reminiscent of their heyday.
Over the past ten or so years, an increase in worldwide environmental consciousness has meant that many companies, institutions, governments, and individuals have campaigned against single-use plastics. The vinyl boom has caused excitement among music lovers, but manufacturing them requires a hell of a lot of plastic. According to Keele University, 135g to be exact.
The influx of mass vinyl production is often an overlooked aspect of environmental discourse, particularly when you consider the types of themes and topics that come up at events like COP28 — industry figureheads and world leaders are generally more concerned with the bigger fish. However, according to the same Keele researchers, a sale of 4.1million records would produce around 1900 tonnes of CO₂, and that’s without taking into account transport and packaging.
Using plastics isn’t always a bad thing — biodegradable material and active recycling are sure ways to reduce its carbon footprint. However, the plastics used to create vinyl aren’t typically biodegradable. That said, the longevity of vinyl records compared to digital copies could potentially offset their environmental impact when considering long-term use and disposal.
Therefore, while vinyl records do pose environmental concerns, is it possible that they might stand as a more eco-conscious choice when weighed against other media formats? Let’s delve into the distinctive characteristics that define vinyl and explore its environmental impact, starting with the basics…
What is vinyl?
Vinyl is a type of plastic made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Along with vinyl records, it can also be used across various products, like flooring, pipes, and more. Characteristically, PVC is known for its durability, flexibility, and versatility, all crucial considering its use in music distribution and the requirement for a sturdy, reliable material.
However, recycling PVC can be challenging due to the various additives used in its production and the complexity of separating it from other plastics. This complexity often limits the extent of PVC recycling and contributes to its environmental impact. On top of this, when burned, PVC releases toxic chemicals, including dioxins, which are known to be persistent organic pollutants and can have serious health and environmental impacts. Also, PVC can persist in landfills for a long time due to the fact that it’s not biodegradable.
Efforts to mitigate PVC’s environmental impact include improved recycling techniques, reduction of harmful additives, and advocacy for alternative materials in certain applications. Despite its widespread use, there’s ongoing debate and scrutiny regarding the environmental impact of PVC. Some industries and companies are exploring alternatives or working to improve recycling processes to reduce PVC’s negative effects on the environment and human health.
In recent years, polyethene terephthalate, a more environmentally friendly version of PVC, which can be recycled, has been utilised. However, reluctance to implement it industry-wide often centres around its quality of sound. Therefore, traditional PVC has remained the dominant material.
How do vinyl records work?
Understanding the specifics of vinyl records in motion is quite a challenge. How does a plastic disk emit musical sound? Put (sort of) simply, this entire process of converting physical groove patterns on the vinyl into electrical signals and then back into audible sound allows us to enjoy the music stored on vinyl records. Each groove represents the unique waveform of the recorded sound, preserving the analogue nature of the original audio.
The material used to create vinyl – PVC – isn’t particularly environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, the process of creating them isn’t either. The procedure itself requires energy-intensive steps, including heating and pressing the vinyl. However, there are efforts to improve this, with some companies exploring greener materials, like polyethene terephthalate, for record production.
Mass vinyl distribution continued to surge in 2023, but there are also significant movements toward more sustainable practices in the industry. The longevity of vinyl records and their potential for recycling can mitigate their environmental impact. However, currently, the most common process when creating vinyl records has a large carbon footprint.
How do you store vinyl records?
In order to ensure vinyl records are as environmentally friendly as they possibly can be, looking after them to increase their life span is crucial. Therefore, knowing the correct method of storing is important, and it starts with placing them in an upright position.
Placing records in a protective inner sleeve also helps to maintain them properly, even better if the sleeve is made of anti-static material to prevent scratches and dust accumulation. You could also opt for inner and outer sleeves made from eco-friendly materials like unbleached paper or recycled polyethene.
Some companies offer sustainable alternatives designed to protect records while being mindful of environmental impact. Keeping storage areas at a moderate temperature and humidity level and avoiding stacking records horizontally is also important, as this can lead to warping and damage.
You can store vinyl records eco-consciously and minimise environmental impact by choosing sustainable materials, reusing or repurposing items, and maintaining your collection well.
