Planets vs Plastics: Earth Day 2024 and Sustainability in Music Production
Music has always been a form of advocacy for social movements, protests, and activism. It's a core foundation of our culture, and for many of us, music is life. We couldn't have a life without music, just as we can't have a life without Earth. As the world experiences more and more extreme weather catastrophes, the question of sustainability in all music industries and businesses is becoming a focal point of concern.
Every year, on April 22nd, Earth Day is celebrated worldwide. This year's theme is Planet vs Plastics, and the organization has defined its demand for a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040. It's no secret that the music industry has relied on plastics in many ways — food and drink during concerts, physical production like CDs and vinyl, and merchandise — and it's hard to imagine music production without it. But better practices are possible, and industries are beginning to forge a path ahead that's brighter, cleaner, and greener.
We all serve the Earth as stewards in our shared mission of protecting and amplifying eco-conscious practices with those around us. Universal Music Production's Green Production Music enables our partners to create beautiful, innovative, and environmentally friendly music that makes our world a greener place to live and work in. Get inspired today and discover our favorite Earth Day tracks.
Vinyl to CDs to Streaming — What's Best?
Though still popular, CDs aren’t being produced at the same rate as they once were, but vinyl production is currently in its 12th consecutive year of growth. Because of this, it's important to note that mass vinyl production requires robust machinery and labor that contributes significantly to plastic pollution and music production's carbon footprint.
Vinyl has also traditionally been made with PVCs (polyvinyl chloride), commonly known as the most environmentally damaging plastics. Now, companies have begun switching to PETs (polyethylene terephthalate) as an alternative. Though still plastic, PETs are a greener alternative that is more durable and easily recyclable.
Other practices include lowering vinyl's PVC content, using recycled vinyl, and implementing eco-friendly packaging in all goods.
There's no denying the fast rise and dominance of streaming in the modern age. From Spotify to Tidal, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Soundcloud, the music streaming options are seemingly endless and continually growing. Millions of songs and albums are just a click away. But, like everything that seems too perfect to be true, streaming services come at a cost.
Streaming Services and Their Energy Requirements
When we stream songs, our devices must access electronic files stored on servers in data centers worldwide. This requires a massive amount of energy to retrieve and transmit that information, which also requires energy to be sent over the Internet. Factor in the energy it takes to power your phone and play the music (which is often playing for hours at a time), and the result isn't negligible.
Compared to vinyl and CDs, streaming has the smallest carbon impact. Listening to music on a streaming platform for just five hours equals the same amount of carbon output to make the plastic of a physical CD, and for a vinyl record, 17 hours. Measuring the exact carbon footprint of streaming is an ongoing, important variable in sustainability as streaming services continue to grow and expand.
Music's Biggest Carbon Footprint: The Touring Economy
By far and large, the most significant carbon footprint in the music industry is the touring economy, including concerts, festivals, and shows. According to the Greener Festival report, which analyzed data from events held in 17 countries, the average festival produces 500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the weight of three single-story houses. The report found that one festival-goer generated 5kg of CO2 per day.
From elaborate stage design to single-use containers, fuel-demanding travel, and massive energy output for sound and lighting, building a festival is just short of building a small, functioning cityscape. Though daunting, paving a greener way is very much possible, with the collaboration of industries, concert and festival goers doing their part, and artists continuing to advocate for change.
Coldplay, for example, has been committed to eco-conscious practices in their touring. Like Neil Young, who pioneered the use of biodiesel fuel in the music industry and used 15 vehicles that only ran on vegetable and soy oil, Coldplay announced at the end of 2019 that they will only tour the world again once it is entirely climate friendly. Since then, the band has been working on a tour concept completely without disposable plastic, which ideally works with solar energy.
Coldplay has also debuted an app, Coldplay Music of The Spheres World Tour, for fans to select greener travel options when attending shows and provides the band greater transparency into the environmental impact of their tour.
Our Green Music Initiative
Universal Production Music is committed to a greener path forward in music production and the music industry. In support of the UK government's target of becoming net zero by 2050, we strive to inspire and encourage our network to join us on our journey towards sustainable music-making. Discover how music production makes sustainable choices with Universal Production Music.
Join us in our fight for a cleaner, greener, music-filled future, and prepare for this year's Earth Day with curated Earth Day songs.
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