There are two problems with record production right now.
One is that the capacity for making it cannot keep up with demand.
Now, a Dutch company ispressing records out of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), not PVC.
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PET is a greener, more durable plastic that is easily recyclable, but will the audiophiles accept it?
Record Breaking
The name vinyl comes from Polyvinyl Chloride, and it’s nasty stuff.
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Green Vinyl Records, from Dutch manufacturing companySymcon, changes that.
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This includes using electricity to heat the water of the steam press instead of burning natural gas.
“Pressing records out of PET is definitely more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
In contrast, PVC is one of the most difficult polymers to recycle.
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Sound Quality
But that’s not the whole story.
People who buy records do it for quite emotional reasons.
And then there’s vinyl’s particular sound.
Its warmth, for example.
Vinyl doesn’t cope well with deep bass.
A song is mastered differently for different media.
Vinyl needs special care.
And there’s nothing that purists hate more than change.
And Professor Lee, our chemical engineering scientist, agrees.
All that remains is for this method to become more widespread.
The vinyl resurgence is established and is far from a fad.
But fixing the shameful environmental aspect of records is a huge step forward.
And with themassive energy costs of the servers behind music streaming, maybe records could become the greenest option?
