Greener vinyl
German manufacturer produces first Ecorecord vinyl LP, with UK plant-based records in the offing
We’ve featured eco-lps made from recycled vinyl in RC in recent years but, in March, Warners announced the first Ecorecord vinyl LP made from recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) rather than conventional polyvinyl chloride (PVC), of which around 30,000 tons is used to make vinyl LPS each year. The charttopping eponymous debut of Liam Gallagher/john Squire is the first PET LP, care of Germany’s Sonopress, which specialises in the manufacture of CDS and DVDS. They claim that the environmental impact of producing PET LPS is 85% less than that for PVC LPS, utilising technology normally associated with CDS, DVDS and BDS, along with various digital media. The record-pressing injection moulding machines were installed at the plant by the end of 2023, then specialist tools and other equipment were trialled with it earlier this year, prior to PET LP production going online. Gernot Wolf told RC that they turned round the order in four weeks, which in these days of vinyl pressing delays shows that they were mad for it!
In addition, in March, PMC Speakers announced that it is investing in Evovinyl, which makes a bioplastic alternative to PVC vinyl, made from sugar cane. The manufacturer claims that Evolps can be produced using 15-30% less energy than conventional records, and they can be pressed in any colour, with no loss of audio quality, and boast the advantage that bioplastic naturally dissipates static, making for dust-free discs. Other vinyl-makers may turn green with envy!
See sonopress.de, evolution-music.co.uk.