Making Records More Sustainable
How the Pact is collaborating to make records more sustainable
Records are an important and much-loved format, and the music community is working together to better understand its environmental impacts and explore ways to reduce them. The Music Climate Pact Vinyl Working Group brings together partners from across the record value chain — from materials suppliers to manufacturers and labels — to share data, trial new approaches and promote science-based improvements.
This page outlines industry initiatives and areas of exploration. It is not intended to make product-specific environmental claims, but to communicate how different parts of the supply chain are adopting more sustainable practices.
🔧 Injection Moulded Records
Injection-moulded PET records use an all-electric manufacturing process, unlike traditional PVC pressing, which relies on steam and heat generated by gas-fired boilers. As part of the MCP programme, verified, product-level carbon footprints showed that injection-moulded production can result in lower carbon emissions than standard traditional pressing, particularly where low-carbon electricity is used. Injection-moulded records expand the range of manufacturing approaches available as the industry continues evaluating ways to reduce environmental impact across the supply chain.
⚡️ Improving Manufacturing Processes
The way records are made can influence their overall footprint. Through a joint MCP x Vinyl Alliance programme launched in 2025, manufacturers are sharing best practices and exploring opportunities such as:
• Improving energy efficiency
• Using renewable electricity where available
• Capturing and recirculating heat from manufacturing processes
• Considering electrified equipment where operationally feasible
These collaborations are ongoing to support continuous improvement across the global supply chain.
♻️ Exploring Lower Emission Material Options
Across the industry, partners are assessing different material streams that may help reduce reliance on virgin fossil-based inputs.
Recycled PET (used in injection-moulded records)
A newer manufacturing route uses PET (polyethylene terephthalate) in an injection-moulded, all-electric process. PET can incorporate post-consumer recycled content, and some manufacturers are exploring how this technology can expand the use of recycled materials within record production.
Reclaimed PVC (used in traditional pressing)
Traditionally, pressed records are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Some manufacturers are increasing their use of reclaimed PVC (also referred to as Regrind Vinyl), which comes from pre-consumer sources such as manufacturing offcuts, test pressings and unsold stock. These materials can be reprocessed and used to press new records. Using reclaimed PVC helps reduce the demand for virgin plastic and supports a more circular manufacturing system.
BIO-ATTRIBUTED VINYL (USED IN TRADITIONAL PRESSING)
Bio-attributed PVC is made using feedstocks from renewable biological sources, typically waste wood or vegetable-oil by-products, rather than fossil fuels. Through a certified mass-balance approach, manufacturers can verify how much of their PVC comes from renewable inputs. The material is identical to traditional PVC, but helps reduce long-term reliance on fossil fuel-based resources. Bio-attributed materials remain an area of active development.
BIO-BASED ALTERNATIVES (USED IN TRADITIONAL PRESSING)
Also launched at the end of 2025, a material supplier has developed and is currently offering a bio-based compound for use in traditional record pressing, using renewable agricultural feedstocks such as sugar cane or sugar beet.
The supplier reports potential environmental benefits compared to conventional PVC, and while these findings are welcome, they need to be independently verified as a next step. At present, bio-based pressing materials remain more expensive than conventional options, though this supplier anticipates costs may reduce when production scales. The MCP will continue to monitor developments in this area as part of its wider assessment of materials and processes.
🚚 Considering Shipping and Distribution Impacts
Shipping can be a significant part of the environmental impact of a record release. Across labels, distributors and logistics partners, the industry is encouraged to integrate environmental thinking into planning from the earliest stages of a release and utilise options such as:
• Using standard-weight vinyl
• Manufacturing closer to the intended market to reduce transport distances
• Where local manufacturing isn’t possible, prioritising sea freight over air freight and ensuring timelines allow for this.
🌍 A Shared Commitment to Learning and Improvement
The work of the MCP vinyl working group represents a collective effort to evaluate, test and refine approaches that may support a more sustainable vinyl ecosystem. As the industry continues to gather data and develop best practices, the Music Climate Pact will ensure updates to this page reflect the most accurate and responsible information available.
This page describes ongoing industry initiatives and areas of exploration across the global vinyl value chain and is not intended to represent product-level environmental claims.
To find out more about how we are collaborating with our suppliers on this topic via the Vinyl Alliance, click here.
If you would like to be involved with our work, please get in touch.