Sonospress is unveiling a brand new type of vinyl LP constructed from recycled plastic to drastically scale back the environmental affect of producing vinyl. Right here’s the most recent.
Sonospress says the brand new LP is being launched in collaboration with Warner Music and makes use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as its base materials. Conventional vinyl LPs are manufactured utilizing polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which makes use of large quantities of chlorine. PVC manufacturing accounts for 40% of use in the USA and releases chlorine—a constructing block of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Sonospress says urgent the brand new vinyl LP constructed from PET plastic requires neither pure fuel nor steam and a take a look at operation noticed an vitality financial savings of as much as 85% in comparison with the normal course of. The primary manufacturing line of EcoRecord vinyls has gone into operation right now at its plant in Gütersloh, Germany following a collection of assessments final yr.
“The assessments had been so encouraging that we gave the inexperienced gentle for in depth funding within the building of a pilot line within the twelve-inch LP format,” provides Sven Deutschmann, Managing Director of Sonospress. “Life cycle analyses by unbiased third-party labs proved that we are able to considerably scale back emissions of climate-changing CO2 with our new course of.”
“We’ve used the previous weeks to verify each manufacturing element 100 occasions over, comprehensively refine all manufacturing parameters, and optimize the standard of the manufactured merchandise in order that we are able to now transfer into common manufacturing with full confidence.”
“From the start of improvement, we set out with the ambition that the standard of the EcoRecord ought to match that of a conventionally produced vinyl LP when it comes to sound high quality. It mustn’t solely persuade the consultants, however above all provide the music lover a wonderful really feel and an ideal listening expertise.”
The EcoRecord is produced and assembled by a brand new injection molding machine with a contact strain of as much as 300 tons. Alongside different needed particular instruments and supplementary gear additionally developed by Sonospress, the manufacturing line was accomplished in only a few months. It harnesses the identical injection molding course of that has been used for many years to create LaserDiscs, CDs, DVDs, and different digital storage media.
Sonospress says the EcoRecord line was launched as the worldwide vinyl market continues to surge. A latest IFPI reported vinyl revenues elevated 17.2% in 2022—marking a 3rd yr of consecutive double-digit progress for the format.
“We’re happy to work intently with Sonospress within the improvement of this sustainable vinyl format,” provides Salvatore Monteleone, Govt Vice President International Operations at Warner Music. “It’s one in all a number of inexperienced innovation initiatives we’re growing with companions to assist scale back our business’s environmental affect. Our objective with this venture is to supply followers with the high-quality sound of vinyl, whereas minimizing carbon emissions in manufacturing and eliminating using PVC.”