Vinyl Records' Environmental Paradox: Inside the Industry's Green Efforts

Kyle Devine's book excerpt 'Vinyl in the Veins' from Recomposed: Music, Climate, Crisis, Change (Verso, July 14, 2026) examines the environmental cost of the vinyl revival. US vinyl sales exceeded $1 billion in 2025 after 19 consecutive years of growth. At the 2019 Making Vinyl conference, CEO Liz Dunster of Erika Records (founded 1981) touted ocean plastic recovery and lead-free records since 2015. Westlake Chemical's Ashby Baum noted the company's transition from lead stabilizers and use of regrind plastic. Sam Gay of Stoughton Printing (since 1964) highlighted recycled paper, soy-based ink, and a four-day workweek. Ninja Tune's Parks Vincent described offsetting emissions via tree planting, eliminating shrink-wrap, and co-founding Music Declares Emergency and the Association of Independent Music's Climate Action Group. Billy Bones of Clampdown Record Pressing near Vancouver uses hydroelectric presses, regrinds unsold records, and plans a biogas boiler. Despite these efforts, Devine notes the industry avoids questioning vinyl's petroleum-based PVC. Clampdown struggles with raw material shortages and the limitations of regrinding, which is costly and quality-inconsistent. Bones explored alternatives like recycled window frames (unplasticized PVC unsuitable) and corn-based bioplastic, but remains dependent on PVC. The piece concludes with the tension between environmental ideals and capitalist realities.