New Billie Eilish Album to Use Recycled and Bio-based Vinyl

By adopting more sustainable manufacturing practices, the artist hopes to encourage more in the music industry to follow suit.

With the help of recycled and bio-based vinyl, Billie Eilish plans to make her next album her most sustainable yet. Eilish plans to release “Hit Me Hard and Soft” –– her third album –– on May 17. All will feature the same tracks but in eight different vinyl versions.

The standard black variant is made from carbon-neutral, 100 percent recycled black vinyl. The remaining seven colored vinyl options will be made using either Precision Record Pressing Inc.’s Eco Mix or Optimal Media GmbH’s BioVinyl.

Eco Mix Uses Recycled Vinyl Bits

Ontario-based Precision Record Pressing Inc. says its Eco Mix albums use entirely recycled material made of leftovers from any color that cannot otherwise be used. Courtesy of Precision Record Pressing Inc.

Canada’s PRP creates its Eco Mix using entirely recycled material made of leftovers from any color that cannot otherwise be used. It just launched the product earlier this year.

The Burlington, Ontario-based firm operates one of North America’s largest vinyl pressing plants. It recycles these pieces and re-uses them for production of future discs. As a result, it says, “every disc will be unique and look different from the last.”

Additionally, Eilish is using recyclable compound for her single-color LPs, collecting all first-run scraps to reuse for additional runs later.

Bio-based BioVinyl Cuts Carbon Emissions by 90%

For its BioVinyl product, Germany-based Optimal Media GmbH says it reduces carbon emissions by 90 percent vs. virgin vinyl. It does so by using non-fossil fuel materials such as used cooking oil or industrial waste gases. This does not negatively impact the audio and optical quality.

Optimal says on its website: “Bio-based PVC is used in the manufacture of this innovative product, which has a third biogenic content and is certified in accordance with the ISCC mass-balance approach.” It notes that he entire BioVinyl manufacturing process is subject to ISCC PLUS certification. This “guarantees a responsible PVC supply chain in line with the circular economy.”

Steve Berman, vice chairman of the newly formed Interscope Capitol Labels Group, discussed the project with Billboard magazine. “It’s really an important responsibility to honor the work that Billie does and how she and her family see it. It’s a lot of work, but it’s something we’re really proud of to be able to bring it to her fans in the cleanest way possible. … So much thought and energy have gone into making sure that we’re being respectful of the fans and making sure that we have vinyl. It’s an important part of the connection to the music and the art.”

New Release to Also Use Eco-friendly Packaging

Optimal Media in Germany manufactures more than 100,000 discs every day with what it calls “its tuned classics and impressive collection of new pressing machines.” Optimal Media GmbH photo.

Driven to be more sustainable, Eilish isn’t stopping with more eco-friendly vinyl discs. The packaging for each album variant is made entirely from post-consumer waste and recycled fiber pre-consumer waste. Additionally, the ink used is raw plant-based and water-based dispersion varnish. The sleeves are totally recycled and reusable. And all goods are then packaged and shipped in recyclable shipping boxes.

As for the cassette and CD versions of the album, Eilish will not use any plastic boxes. The packager is making cassette shells from recycled shell pieces. For CDs, it is opting for softpaks that use 100 percent renewable fibers to replace the traditional plastic jewel cases.

“We are doing everything we can to minimize waste in every aspect of my music,” Billboard quoted the musician as saying. “[My label has] listened to my concerns and helped me find the best way forward when releasing music and product into the world.”

The 22-year-old Eilish has emerged as a sustainability leader in music. She’s even created a Sustainability tab on her website detailing the steps she is taking in this regard. She says she hopes “that others will adopt the same practices, and they will eventually become standard. It really is as simple as that.”