PMC is supporting another UK company in its quest to do the right thing for the environment and is backing the production of a more sustainable vinyl alternative - Evovinyl.

L-R: Evolution Music's Marc Carey and PMC's Peter Thomas

PMC has invested in Evolution Music Ltd., which is behind developing a plant-based alternative to the environmentally harmful PVC material used to make most vinyl records dubbed Evovinyl. Disc International estimates that global record production accounts for roughly 30,000 tonnes of PVC every year, and considering that Greenpeace regards it as the most damaging plastic out there, this could be the unforeseen downside of the vinyl revival - even though, potentially, many of those records will be held in collections for decades. However, due to its production, use, and disposal, polyvinyl chloride releases toxic chlorine-based chemicals that build up in the water, air, and food chain.

Peter Thomas, PMC's founder, chairman, and keen environmentalist, was introduced to Marc Carey, CEO of Evolution Music, by a mutual friend and record producer, Bill Gautier (Paul McCartney, The Cure, Fleet Foxes). The two parties are now joining forces to push for a more sustainable alternative to polyvinyl records. Evolution's new plant-based material is made from sugar cane, which has the great benefit of being compostable, more sustainably produced, and far less impactful to the environment.

L-R: Bill Gaultier, Peter Thomas, Marc Carey

Marc Carey clarifies, “We needed this project to be as sustainable as possible, from production to disposal… Evolution will be working with an expert team as part of our R&D… to ensure that the people who grow the cane are working in a good environment and not using toxic fertilisers”. He goes on to add, “Testing has shown a 30% energy saving if a plant switches entirely to this product, and it takes 50% less time to press a record, so big energy savings are possible.”

Evovinyl is ready to enter the marketplace following five years of research and development, with Abbey Road's in-house producer, Rob Cass, one of the notable figures responsible for assessing its quality. The eco-friendly material can be pressed in any colour and, apparently, naturally dissipates static, which is an added bonus.

Peter Thomas enthuses, “With the product finalised and the major record labels keen to get involved… we are in a good position to make a positive change to the audio and music industries' impact on the environment.”

Thomas also states that “a number of established artists”, including a multi-Grammy winner, have expressed interest in their next album being pressed using Evovinyl.

The record industry isn't best known for getting ahead in new technologies, as its somewhat clumsy handling of music streaming has proved most recently. With the hinted interest in Evovinyl already coming from artists, labels, and producers, perhaps there is hope that finding a more sustainable alternative to traditional vinyl will benefit all.

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