We all love the romantic, tactile experience of vinyl records, and their recent comeback in the music industry shows that. With the revival of demand for vinyl comes a renewed need for and opportunity to revolutionise the printed music industry as we know it. Bye Bye Plastic and Evolution Music have teamed up to launch the world’s first bacteria-made vinyl. Here’s why you should care about your “vinyl footprint” and make the upgrade to eco-vinyls!
Party with a purpose
Imagine your entire collection, turned into PHA vinyl: the best printed music, minus the worry of hurting the environment.
Bye Bye Plastic, a foundation committed to removing single-use plastics in the music industry, and Evolution Music, a collective of music industry and sustainability experts accelerating the music industry’s shift to more sustainable and socially responsible practises, via BLOND:ISH’s Abracadabra Records, are innovating the music industry by producing entirely plastic-free vinyl records.
Pioneering Evolution Music’s new technology, the upcoming record will be the first ever bacteria-based one. This petroleum-free innovation scores double, morphing eco-conscious lyrics that make both audiophiles and fish happy! An eclectic mix of galvanising artistry, the record is mainly underpinned by one striking force: the desire to eliminate single-use plastic from the music industry.
So here’s 6 reasons why you should care to switch to PHA….
1. Lower greenhouse gas emissions
As seductive as the temptation may be to slide a classic PVC disc from its glossy sleeve and get lost in its heady frequencies, archaic production techniques ensure that traditional vinyl pressings are responsible for 12 times the greenhouse gas emissions of other physical music media.
The solution? Drawing inspiration from our planet’s one true innovator: mother nature.
Evolution Music have spent the last four years working on R&D to identify non-toxic natural solutions for the music industry. Their first project focused on a plant based biopolymer to create the world’s first Evo-Vinyl: made from PHA’s most promising predecessor, PLA. Following the launch of EM’s original plant-based disc via Music Declares Emergency in July 2022, Bye Bye Plastic have now joined with Evolution Music to take the research forward with the next iteration of polymer development.
2. Fully compostable and biodegradable materials
Made entirely by microorganisms through bacterial fermentation, the biopolymer used for these records is a highly novel material. Classed in the PHA family, the final product will be fully earth-compliant: compostable and biodegradable in any environment, including the ocean!
(Back in 2020, Camille led a conversation with Charlie Rolski from Plastic Oceans International about the exciting applications for PHA while setting the record straight on the meaning of biodegradable, recyclable and compostable.)
3. Scalability
Not only can PHA provide nutrients for living organisms if and when it enters the ocean, but Evolution Music’s R&D into bioplastics has ensured scalability, as these utilise the same manufacturing infrastructure used for traditional vinyl pressings. This means that any pressing plant can adopt this new material in the future.
4. Energy efficiency
The new materials also prove energy-efficient! Evolution Music has seen their product create energy savings estimated at about 10-15% if a plant is to make a complete switch to a fossil fuel-free PLA or PHA compound. The rewards are stacking up in favour of these exciting non-PVC alternatives.
5. Sound quality
Harnessing Evolution Music’s innovative technology, #PlasticFreeParty follows years of fine-tuning to ensure the highest possible audio quality. Marc Carey, CEO of Evolution Music, “Creating a robust non-toxic alternative to PVC is one thing. Getting the material to press and sound like traditional vinyl is another. […] we are seeing incremental improvements in the sound quality. The Evo-Vinyl product still has some surface noise in the lead but it is barely audible. We hope to achieve the same great sound with this next bio compound”
6. #PlasticFreeParty’s finest artists
Uniting a powerful collective of artists sick of seeing plastic on their dancefloors, Parisian duo Chambord curated #PlasticFreeParty to life, mixing a visionary blend of artistic passion for the planet with a drive to deliver astounding results. Featuring tracks from 14 environmental tastemakers, the album is a glimmer of a greener future in the electronic dance scene. Uniting eco-minded thrill-seekers sonically and lyrically, #PlasticFreeParty packs a punch. All 14 artists from this album have squeezed the best of their creative juice and gave birth to passionate and motivating tracks feeding the movement.
“‘I Give Freedom’ is a track that I started with my friend and collaborator, Millad. The song speaks to the ability we all have to inspire change in ourselves and the world around us. The freedom to choose what we leave behind, and what impact we have on the earth.” [Shiba San].
Not only is this album made of biodegradable materials, but it also supports a good cause: as a fundraising album, all profits will support Bye Bye Plastic’s work to make the music industry plastic-free. You can now hold a piece of history in your hand, & pre-order the very limited edition version on Bandcamp.
All images via Bye Bye Plastic, credits to Toni Villen