Photo courtesy of Warner Music Group Inc.
Coldplay is rereleasing nine albums as what Warner Music Group Inc. calls “EcoRecords” made of recycled-content polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The material is being used as a substitute for vinyl, the traditional plastic records have been made from for decades.
The United Kingdom office of Warner Music says plastic bottles were the source material for the recycled PET (rPET) used to make the albums, which were produced using injection molding technology.
The music label says using rPET instead of virgin-content vinyl has reduced carbon emissions from the manufacturing and shipping process by an estimated 85 percent, adding that the discs are “easily recyclable.”
Calling rPET “a lightweight and durable material that is easily recyclable and designed for a circular economy,” Warner Music says the lightweight aspect will result in significantly contributing to reduced shipping emissions.
Each disc weighs 4.9 ounces and has been made from, on average, nine recycled PET beverage bottles, according to Warner Music.
“This pioneering move follows the successful launch of the band’s 10th album, ‘Moon Music,’ last year, which was already released on 100 percent rPET EcoRecords,” the music label says, noting “Moon Music” is the world’s first album released as an EcoRecord.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with artists such as Coldplay who share our commitment to a more sustainable future for music,” says Jen Ivory, managing director of the U.K.-based Parlophone business unit of Warner Music.
The band’s label says Coldplay also has been making efforts to reduce its carbon footprint during its current Music Of The Spheres World Tour, and has calculated a 59 percent cut in emissions thus far.
Earlier this decade, Colorado-based Ball Corp. announced it would be providing its “infinitely recyclable” Ball Aluminum Cup to venues hosting Coldplay during the American portion of its Music Of The Spheres World Tour.