Independent music companies collaborate with environmental groups to produce limited-edition vinyl records from recycled materials, signalling a shift towards greener manufacturing practices amid rising consumer demand for eco-friendly formats.
A coalition of independent music companies is using World Environment Day to push vinyl manufacturing further towards lower-impact production, with a campaign built around records pressed entirely from recycled material.
Secretly Group, Exceleration Music, Warp Records, Ninja Tune and Beggars Group are working with Music Declares Emergency and the Music Climate Pact on a limited series of special-edition albums due on 5 June 2026. The releases will be sold in the US, Canada and the UK, as well as direct to consumers, and are being positioned as a practical demonstration that vinyl can be produced without fresh fossil-fuel-derived plastic.
The labels say the records are made from reclaimed inputs such as manufacturing trim, quality rejects and unsold stock. The aim is to keep material in circulation rather than send it to waste streams, while preserving the sound characteristics buyers expect from the format. Featured artists include Bon Iver, Elliott Smith, Chuck Prophet, Black Country, New Road and Bonobo.
The campaign arrives as labels and distributors face growing pressure to address the carbon intensity of physical media. Ben Swanson, co-founder and chief operating officer of Secretly Group, said manufacturing is typically the biggest emissions source for record labels and said the company had already reduced its manufacturing footprint by 70% versus a 2023 baseline through work with its vinyl plants. The latest initiative, he said, is intended to extend that effort across the wider sector.
Demand appears to be there. Key Production’s 2024 survey found 69% of vinyl buyers said they would buy more records if they were made sustainably, while 77% said they would pay more for environmentally conscious formats. For an industry still heavily reliant on conventional PVC pressings, that suggests sustainability is moving from a niche talking point to a commercial issue.
Beggars Group, which has signed the Music Climate Pact, has pledged to halve its emissions by 2030. Ian Stanton, head of sustainability at the company, said increasing the share of recycled and reclaimed content in records was one part of that plan and welcomed the cross-industry collaboration around World Environment Day.
Ninja Tune is also pushing recycled content deeper into its catalogue. Sean Preston, the label’s head of production, said the company is using surplus PVC from previous pressings, often described as an “eco mix”, and argued that recycled material can match virgin vinyl for sound quality. The label has even pressed the full run of Black Country, New Road’s latest album, Forever Howlong, on recycled PVC.
The campaign also reflects a broader attempt to raise standards around where records are made. According to the labels involved, all of the vinyl in the project has been manufactured at pressing plants that take part in the Music Climate Pact and the Vinyl Alliance Sustainable Supplier Program, reinforcing the move towards cleaner production as well as cleaner inputs.
The wider market is beginning to diversify beyond traditional black vinyl altogether. Sonopress has launched EcoRecord in the US, a long-playing format made from recyclable PET rather than PVC, after an earlier European rollout with releases from Liam Gallagher and John Squire, Ed Sheeran and Marina. The company says the format is designed to offer high-fidelity playback while using less energy and avoiding some of the environmental drawbacks associated with conventional record production.
Taken together, the initiatives point to a modest but visible shift in how the music business thinks about physical formats. Vinyl remains a premium product, but labels are increasingly treating it as part of their decarbonisation agenda rather than an obstacle to it.
- https://www.plasticstoday.com/sustainability/recycled-vinyl-campaign-highlights-sustainability-in-music-industry-practices – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.plasticstoday.com/sustainability/recycled-vinyl-campaign-highlights-sustainability-in-music-industry-practices – An article detailing a collaborative campaign by Secretly Group, Exceleration Music, Warp Records, Ninja Tune, and Beggars Group, in partnership with Music Declares Emergency and the Music Climate Pact. Launching on World Environment Day, June 5, 2026, the initiative features special edition albums pressed on 100% recycled vinyl, available in the US, Canada, and UK, as well as through direct-to-consumer channels. The campaign promotes the use of reclaimed materials, including manufacturing trim, quality rejects, and unsold stock, ensuring no new virgin, fossil fuel-derived plastic is used. Artists involved include Bon Iver, Elliott Smith, Chuck Prophet, Black Country, New Road, and Bonobo. A 2024 survey by Key Production revealed that 69% of vinyl buyers would purchase more records if they were sustainably produced, and 77% would pay a premium for eco-conscious formats. Ben Swanson, co-founder and COO of Secretly Group, emphasized the environmental impact of manufacturing in the music industry, noting that manufacturing is typically the highest source of carbon emissions for record labels. Beggars Group, a signatory to the Music Climate Pact, has committed to halving its carbon emissions by 2030. Ian Stanton, head of sustainability at Beggars Group, highlighted the importance of increasing the amount of recycled and reclaimed material in records. Sean Preston, head of production at Ninja Tune, discussed the benefits of using repurposed materials, which offer sound parity with virgin vinyl. This collaborative effort underscores the music industry’s commitment to sustainability, setting a precedent for eco-friendly practices in vinyl production. All records in the recycled vinyl campaign have been manufactured at pressing plants committed to sustainability, participating in the Music Climate Pact and the Vinyl Alliance Sustainable Supplier Program. Additionally, Sonopress, a global producer of media and entertainment services, launched its production of EcoRecord—the world’s first long-playing record made from recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—for the US market, marking an advance in sustainable music production. The format represents a collaboration between Sonopress and Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company that supplied the specialty PET resin enabling high-fidelity audio performance. Production is taking place at Sonopress’s Charlotte, NC, facility, following EcoRecord’s successful European debut with albums from Liam Gallagher and John Squire, Ed Sheeran, and Marina. ([plasticstoday.com](https://www.plasticstoday.com/sustainability/recycled-vinyl-campaign-highlights-sustainability-in-music-industry-practices?utm_source=openai))
- https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/secretly-group-exceleration-music-warp-records-ninja-tune-beggars-group-partner-with-music-declares-emergency-the-music-climate-pact-for-recycled-vinyl-campaign – A press release announcing a partnership between Secretly Group, Exceleration Music, Warp Records, Ninja Tune, and Beggars Group with Music Declares Emergency and the Music Climate Pact. The initiative, launching on World Environment Day, June 5, 2026, features special edition albums pressed on 100% recycled vinyl, available in the US, Canada, and UK, as well as through direct-to-consumer channels. The campaign promotes the use of reclaimed materials, including manufacturing trim, quality rejects, and unsold stock, ensuring no new virgin, fossil fuel-derived plastic is used. Artists involved include Bon Iver, Elliott Smith, Chuck Prophet, Black Country, New Road, and Bonobo. Ben Swanson, co-founder and COO of Secretly Group, emphasized the environmental impact of manufacturing in the music industry, noting that manufacturing is typically the highest source of carbon emissions for record labels. Beggars Group, a signatory to the Music Climate Pact, has committed to halving its carbon emissions by 2030. Ian Stanton, head of sustainability at Beggars Group, highlighted the importance of increasing the amount of recycled and reclaimed material in records. Sean Preston, head of production at Ninja Tune, discussed the benefits of using repurposed materials, which offer sound parity with virgin vinyl. This collaborative effort underscores the music industry’s commitment to sustainability, setting a precedent for eco-friendly practices in vinyl production. All records in the recycled vinyl campaign have been manufactured at pressing plants committed to sustainability, participating in the Music Climate Pact and the Vinyl Alliance Sustainable Supplier Program. ([shorefire.com](https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/secretly-group-exceleration-music-warp-records-ninja-tune-beggars-group-partner-with-music-declares-emergency-the-music-climate-pact-for-recycled-vinyl-campaign?utm_source=openai))
- https://ecorecord.org/en – An overview of EcoRecord, a sustainable vinyl record produced by Sonopress. EcoRecord replaces traditional PVC with PET, offering exceptional audio performance while significantly reducing environmental impact. The production process is energy-efficient, consuming 85% less energy compared to conventional vinyl pressings. EcoRecord is fully recyclable, free of chlorine and halogen additives, and provides precise groove reproduction and high dimensional stability. The material is suitable for both recycled content and virgin PET. Independent audio experts confirm the acoustic quality of EcoRecord, noting clear highs, defined transients, and stable dynamics. The records are available in black, as well as various transparent and opaque colours, with the special INKPLOSION™ process creating striking effects and colour gradients. EcoRecord has been adopted by artists and labels worldwide, including Liam Gallagher, John Squire, Ed Sheeran, and Marina. ([ecorecord.org](https://ecorecord.org/en?utm_source=openai))
- https://ecorecord.gg/about-ecorecords/ – An article about EcoRecords, a sustainable vinyl record produced by Sonopress in collaboration with Gotta Groove Records. EcoRecord is made from PET, replacing traditional PVC, and is produced using a new type of injection moulding machine. Both PVC and PET are recyclable materials, but PET requires fewer resources to recycle than PVC. The first EcoRecord machine in the U.S. was installed in May 2025, with the capability to produce thousands of EcoRecords per day in various colours. The Gotta Groove + Sonopress EcoRecord is made with a new design of machine and a proprietary type of PET custom formulated for optimal sound quality.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article was published on April 28, 2026, and reports on a campaign launching on June 5, 2026, coinciding with World Environment Day. The initiative involves multiple record labels releasing special edition albums pressed on 100% recycled vinyl. This is a recent development with no prior reports found, indicating high freshness. However, similar initiatives have been reported in the past, such as Coldplay’s 2024 release of albums made from recycled plastic bottles. ([euronews.com](https://www.euronews.com/culture/2024/06/19/coldplay-to-release-new-album-moon-music-on-vinyl-made-from-recycled-plastic-bottles?utm_source=openai)) This prior example suggests that while the current campaign is fresh, the concept of recycled vinyl releases is not entirely new.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from industry figures like Ben Swanson of Secretly Group and Ian Stanton of Beggars Group. These quotes are not found in earlier reports, indicating they are original to this article. However, without independent verification of these statements, the authenticity of the quotes cannot be fully confirmed.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article is published on Plastics Today, a publication focusing on the plastics industry. While it provides detailed information about the campaign, the publication’s primary focus is not on the music industry, which may affect its expertise in this area. Additionally, the article does not provide links to primary sources or official statements from the involved parties, which limits the ability to independently verify the information.
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The campaign’s focus on sustainability aligns with current industry trends towards eco-friendly practices. The involvement of multiple reputable record labels and music industry organizations adds credibility to the initiative. However, the lack of direct links to official statements or press releases from the involved parties raises questions about the transparency and verifiability of the claims.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
While the article presents a recent initiative in the music industry focusing on sustainability, the lack of direct links to official statements or press releases from the involved parties, combined with the publication’s primary focus on the plastics industry, raises concerns about the reliability and verifiability of the information. The absence of independent verification sources further diminishes confidence in the article’s accuracy.
