Warner Music, GZ Media Pilot Recycled Vinyl Testing
Warner Music Group and GZ Media, a vinyl record pressing plant based in the Czech Republic, have concluded a pilot program demonstrating that previously manufactured, unsold records can be reprocessed and used in new vinyl pressings without diminishing audio quality.
Ten thousand unsold records from a variety of artists, titles, and pressing plants were processed by being shredded.
New record pressings were then created using recycled content in proportions ranging from 10% to 100%.
Evaluations to assess audio quality were conducted in collaboration with Abbey Road Studios. Industry professionals assessed the pressings without being informed of the recycled content percentages.
The findings indicated that material reclaimed from used records can be integrated into new pressings that meet commercial standards for sound quality and production.
Specifically, a blend of 25% recycled vinyl and 75% new vinyl received the highest audio quality rating, exceeding that of pressings made entirely from new materials.
The project also assessed the environmental impact of reprocessing unsold vinyl, factoring in transport, storage, sorting, and shredding.
Modeling suggested the potential for more than a 10% reduction in carbon emissions compared to using entirely new materials, based on the parameters of the assessment.
Miles Showell, a Mastering Engineer at Abbey Road, stated, “Vinyl listeners care deeply about sound quality, so the standards for this project were always high. What impressed me was how consistent the pressings were across the different material blends, showing that sustainability and sound quality do not have to be at odds.”
Vladimír Víšek, Head of Sustainability at GZ, said, “Sustainability and quality must go hand in hand. For more sustainable products to be adopted across the industry, it’s important they deliver the same level of quality and performance as standard products. Industry Conference to Address Emerging Trends in Music We hope this project provides a foundation the industry can continue to build on as it explores more resource-efficient pathways for vinyl production.”
Warner Music Group has been actively involved in sustainability initiatives, including a recent deal with Suno. Suno & Warner Music Group Forge First-of-Its-Kind Deal
This pilot program follows Warner Music Group and GMM Music Launch GLIIDE Artist Development Platform, highlighting the company’s commitment to innovation.
