May 2026: Recognition, Connection and a Material Breakthrough

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May 2026: Recognition, Connection and a Material Breakthrough

May 2026 was one of the more significant months in Evolution Music’s short history. Not because everything went perfectly but because the combination of industry recognition, new relationships, and genuine product progress gave us a clearer picture of where we are and where we’re heading.

Music Week Awards

Evolution Music had been nominated for the Music Consumer Innovation Award at the Music Week Awards 2026, and while any nomination is welcome, the nomination meant more than that. To us, it was another step in us being recognised by the music industry, alongside some of the biggest names in the business, for work that sits at the very core of what we do felt like a genuine milestone.

Innovation isn’t a word we use lightly. It’s the foundation everything we build is built on. Our goal has always been straightforward, even if the path to get there hasn’t been; to move the music industry away from its reliance on fossil-fuel-based materials and toward something better. Evovinyl is the first door we’ve opened in that process, but it won’t be the last.

What sets Evovinyl apart is worth being clear about. Unlike other products that describe themselves as sustainable vinyl, most of which take existing PVC formulas and swap out a small percentage of the harmful chemicals, we went back to the beginning. Working with our partners, we developed Evovinyl from the ground up, using natural waste products from sugarcane and all-natural polymers, with one specific goal in mind: to eliminate the dangerous chemicals in PVC entirely, not just reduce them. The difference matters.

On the night itself, the award went to RCA. That’s the nature of these things, and we mean it genuinely when we say the room was full of work worth celebrating. What the evening gave us was something harder to manufacture: time with people who care about the same things we do. Old connections picked back up, new ones made, and a real sense of the mood within the industry right now.

What struck us most was the energy coming from the grassroots. Independent artists, small labels, organisations doing things collaboratively.

Into The Label Market

The second significant event of the month was the Independent Label Market, held at Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross on the 9th of May. We shared a table with Saviour Music, which gave us the opportunity to put Evovinyl on a turntable and let people hear it for themselves. That direct contact with consumers and industry figures is something you can’t replicate online; people respond differently when the record is physically in front of them. Allowing us to tell our story in person and for people to get instant feedback from consumers and producers. Something we have always felt we needed more of. The response was great, leading to interesting conversations about sustainability, the life cycle of PVC and the lifetime of a vinyl record.

What was notable about the day was how many other exhibitors were engaging with sustainability in some form. From clothing brands rethinking their supply chains to vinyl producers like Good Neighbour Music addressing vinyl production methodology, it was clear that these conversations are becoming more mainstream within the independent sector. Whether that translates into meaningful change at scale remains to be seen, but the direction of travel was encouraging.

Brighton and the Sustainability Conversation

The Brighton Music Conference was the event we had been looking forward to most in May. Through our connected venture Brighton Vinyl, we already have roots in the city, which made the conference feel like a natural fit rather than unfamiliar territory.

The four-day event gave us genuine access to a part of the music industry we don’t always get to engage with directly, electronic music scene. It opened doors to conversations with labels and artists we hadn’t previously had the opportunity to speak with, and that kind of targeted networking is difficult to replicate at more formal events.

The highlight for us was our CEO Marc Carey taking part as a panelist on the Electronic Music Leading Innovation In Sustainability panel and covering real-world case studies from within electronic music culture, including what has worked, what hasn’t, and what meaningful change in the industry actually requires. Marc also hosted a separate panel focused specifically on vinyl and it’s future. Talking about everything from the use of the material itself and the processes used to press it.

What was notable about the day was how many other exhibitors were engaging with sustainability in some form. From clothing brands rethinking their supply chains to vinyl producers like Good Neighbour Music addressing vinyl production methodology, it was clear that these conversations are becoming more mainstream within the independent sector. Whether that translates into meaningful change at scale remains to be seen, but the direction of travel was encouraging.

Pressing Into Full Commercialisation

We have had a release with Will Spencer with his EP The Real World

During the Independent Label Market we had the incredible news that our latest variant of the material was pressing successfully on both hand and automated presses. Our previous Evovinyl variant had reached a point where it performed reliably on hand pressing machines, but remained inconsistent when used on automated pressing equipment which is a limitation that presented a real barrier to full commercialisation.

This month we tested our latest material variant, and the results were exactly what we wanted. It performs reliably on both hand and automated pressing machines.

That may sound like a technical detail, but the implications are substantial. Automated pressing is the backbone of commercial vinyl production. Without consistent performance on that equipment, scaling Evovinyl beyond small and specialist runs was not a realistic prospect. With it, the path to full commercial production becomes considerably more straightforward.

We are cautious about overstating where we are in the process. There is still work to do. But this is one of the most significant material milestones we have reached to date, and it changes what the next phase of Evolution Music looks like in a meaningful way.

May also saw the release of Will Spencer pressing his EP The Real World on Evovinyl. It is a record that means a great deal to Will personally, and having it released on our material.

Looking Ahead

May was, by any measure, a significant month for Evolution Music. From award nominations to industry events, new artist releases to material breakthroughs, the threads that have been running through everything we have built are starting to come together in a tangible way. The conversations we are having with artists, labels, pressing plants, and the wider industry, are more serious and more frequent than they have ever been. The interest is there. The material is ready. The next step is commercialisation, and we are closer to that than we have ever been.

If you are an artist, label, or pressing plant who wants to understand what Evovinyl could mean for your releases, we would love to hear from you.

Evovinyl Launch: The World’s First Bioplastic Vinyl LP Moves Into Commercialisation

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EvoVinyl Launch: The World’s First Bioplastic Vinyl LP Moves Into Commercialisation.

Evolution Music has officially launched EvoVinyl, the world’s first plant-based bioplastic vinyl record, marking a major milestone in our journey to facilitate a more sustainable music industry. After years of research, development, and testing, Evovinyl is now ready for full commercialisation, pressing on manual pressings, offering a non-toxic, plant-based alternative to traditional PVC records.

Hosted at Hidden Grooves, the launch event brought together supporters, partners, industry innovators, and sustainability advocates from across the music industry, from record labels to vinyl pressing companies. The evening showcased Evovinyl’s sound quality, environmental benefits, and potential to reshape how vinyl records are made, distributed, and enjoyed.

Supported by event sponsor Vapoura, the night highlighted not only our achievements so far but also the vision for what comes next.V

What Is EvoVinyl? A Sustainable Alternative to Traditional Vinyl.

EvoVinyl is a plant-based, non-toxic biopolymer designed to replace the PVC traditionally used in vinyl record production. Unlike standard vinyl, which relies on fossil fuels, EvoVinyl uses eco-friendly materials and natural polymers that drastically reduce environmental impact while maintaining high audio performance.

Key sustainability benefits include:

  • A bioplastic formula that removes non-renewable petrochemicals from production.
  • Non-toxic materials, eliminating harmful additives found in PVC.
  • Compatibility with existing pressing equipment makes industry adoption achievable.

With the vinyl market continuing to grow worldwide, Evovinyl offers a scalable, responsible alternative for artists, labels, pressing plants, and environmentally conscious consumers.

A Major Milestone After Years of Research and Development.

The launch event marked the first time the public experienced Evovinyl in a fully commercial-ready form. For the Evolution Music team, the night was a moment of validation after years of intensive R&D, collaboration with pressing plants, and extensive audio testing.

Hearing Evovinyl records played through high-end systems and seeing them in the hands of our supporters demonstrated what we have worked toward: a sustainable record that delivers the quality listeners expect.

The growing network of partners, supporters, and future collaborators who joined us at the launch affirmed that the mission resonates far beyond our team. This community will play a vital role in the next stage of our journey.

Why Sustainable Vinyl Matters.

Traditional vinyl records are made from PVC, one of the most environmentally damaging plastics. As the vinyl market expands, so does the industry’s material footprint.

Evovinyl offers a viable solution for:

  • Record labels are seeking greener manufacturing options.
  • Pressing plants looking to innovate without retooling their equipment.
  • Artists and consumers are demanding more environmentally conscious products.
  • Music retailers hoping to future-proof their catalogue with sustainable formats.

Our goal is to create a cleaner future for physical music — one where great sound no longer comes at the cost of the planet.

What’s Next for Evovinyl and Evolution Music?

The launch marks the beginning of our commercial rollout. In the coming months, Evolution Music will focus on:

  • Working on our ability to press flawlessly on fully automatic presses. Something we aim to achieve in early 2026.
  • Partnering with pressing plants to scale up production.
  • Working with both large and independent record labels and artists on early Evovinyl releases.
  • Continuing material innovation to push audio and environmental performance even further.
  • Contribute to establishing a global framework for sustainable record manufacturing.

The future of vinyl is evolving — and Evovinyl is at the forefront of this transformation.

Be Part of the Future of Sustainable Music.

Whether you’re an artist, label, pressing plant, retailer, or environmentally conscious listener, Evolution Music invites you to join us on the next phase of this journey.

EvoVinyl is ready. The future of sustainable vinyl starts now.

Evolution Music at Making Vinyl 2025: A Step Towards a Collaborative, Sustainable Future

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Evolution Music at Making Vinyl 2025: A Step Towards a Collaborative, Sustainable Future.

The Evolution Music team has just returned from Making Vinyl 2025 in Haarlem, Netherlands, and the experience has left us inspired, energised, and more committed than ever to building a sustainable future for the vinyl industry. Over the course of three days, we travelled, networked, learned, and shared our vision for EvoVinyl with some of the most influential voices in music manufacturing.

From the first evening’s warm introductions to the final night of celebration, the event reinforced one thing for us: sustainability is no longer a side note in the vinyl industry. It is the central conversation.

Arrival & First Impressions

Our journey began with an evening networking event hosted by Key Productions. It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones, including John Service, Karen Emanuel (Key Productions), Sean Preston (Ninja Tune), John Wardle, Onno-Pieter Sonnega, Gerben Tieltjes (Plastchem), Andreas Kohl, Ruben Planting, Brian Ekus (Making Vinyl), Cash Carter (Conectiv), Vladimir Visek (GZ Media), and Ian Stanton (Beggars Group), among many others. This set the tone for the days ahead: open, collaborative, and full of energy.

That first evening reminded us of why gatherings like Making Vinyl matter so much. It cemented with us that it is about building genuine connections with the people who shape this industry. People who share the same passion for music, innovation, and increasingly, sustainability.

Day 1 – The Future of Vinyl

The first day of the conference opened with a series of Future of Vinyl panels, where sustainability was not just a talking point but was the core of the conversation. One of the highlights was hearing Cash Carter (Conectiv) specifically call out EvoVinyl as a leading option for the future of vinyl manufacturing. This recognition validated years of research, development, and advocacy. EvoVinyl is no longer just our vision. It is being recognised by industry leaders as a serious, practical solution to what we see as one of vinyl’s greatest environmental challenges and the reasons behind us starting this endeavour: its reliance on PVC.

Further panels focused on how labels can work to ensure a positive and safeguarded long-term future for vinyl pressing. With contributions from Sean Preston (Ninja Tune), Geoff Sadler (Cooking Vinyl), Caroline Hansen (Warp Records), Marianne Frederick (United Record Pressing) and Stine Muhle (Clouds Hill), all sharing their unique perspectives on how the industry should prepare for the future.

Throughout the day, we were encouraged by the volume of interest in EvoVinyl from pressing plants, labels, and brokers across the globe. Scaling up suddenly felt not just possible, but imminent.

We ended the day on a high, joining our colleague Jeroen Van Driel for dinner and reflecting on just how much momentum was building around our mission.

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ceo of good neighbour
ian stanton on podium
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Day 2 – Sustainability Summit & Beyond

The second day was dedicated to the Making Vinyl Sustainability Summit, and it did not disappoint. The summit provided a wide-ranging look at the sustainability challenges facing the vinyl industry, as well as potential solutions.

A standout session was the panel led by Julia Völkel (Key Production EU), alongside Rob van Wegen (ESNS), Dirk van den Bosch (Nationaal Klimaatplatform), John Service (Key Production) and Fridolin Pflüger (HolyPoly).

Their discussion highlighted the complexity of the vinyl supply chain, from analogue production processes to the highly specialised skills and international coordination needed at every stage. Introducing sustainability measures into such a system is no small task, and the panel explored both the challenges and the opportunities this presents.

Key themes included:

  • The need to learn from other industries while respecting vinyl’s unique analogue heritage.
  • The importance of collaboration across borders and sectors.
  • The role of cultural practice in shaping innovation within entertainment and music.

It was a reminder that true change is not about simple fixes, but about systemic shifts—and that those shifts require partnership, persistence, and shared vision.

Later, a joint programme with the Haarlem Vinyl Festival further underlined the urgency of sustainable solutions. Hosted by Karen Emanuel (Key Production), the public panel explored a wide range of factors shaping the industry’s environmental impact—including carbon emissions, waste management, energy consumption, and comprehensive life cycle assessments. While these efforts demonstrate a strong commitment to providing the transparency and accountability that consumers demand, the diversity of methodologies and measurement criteria introduces complexity. The discussion emphasised the importance of dialogue, cooperation, and coalition-building to navigate these challenges effectively. Once again, EvoVinyl was highlighted as a vital step forward in making this vision a reality.

The night closed in true Making Vinyl fashion—with more networking, more conversations, and even some time on the dance floor.

Reflections and Looking Ahead

Our time at Making Vinyl made one thing abundantly clear: the vinyl industry is entering a pivotal moment. The conversations in Haarlem highlighted the urgency of tackling sustainability across every stage of the supply chain. From raw materials and production methods to energy use, emissions, and waste management. Yet with that urgency also comes complexity. Diverse methodologies, objectives, and measurement criteria across the industry can make the path forward difficult to navigate.

What stood out most was the shared recognition that no single company, label, or plant can solve these issues alone. Building strong partnerships, fostering open dialogue, and aligning around collective goals are essential if we are to achieve meaningful and lasting change.

In this landscape, EvoVinyl has emerged as a beacon of possibility — a practical, scalable innovation that not only reduces environmental impact but also inspires broader collaboration across the sector. The overwhelming interest we received from pressing plants, labels, and brokers at the conference confirms that the appetite for sustainable solutions is real, and growing fast.

Making Vinyl was more than just a conference. It was a rallying point for us, and a realisation that we are not just part of the conversation but deep at its heart.

Now is the time to take action. If you’re a label, pressing plant, distributor, or music professional ready to be part of this sustainable shift, we’d love to connect and explore how EvoVinyl can support your vision for the future of the music industry. And if you’re a music fan, your voice matters just as much. By learning about sustainable alternatives, sharing the message, and choosing eco-friendly options when they’re available, you help push the industry forward.

Let’s work together to Make Music Better.

Evolution Music at Making Vinyl 2025

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Evolution Music at Making Vinyl: Driving Sustainability in the Music Industry.

We’re excited to share that the Evolution Music team will be attending Making Vinyl, the world’s premier conference for the vinyl industry. Bringing together pressing plants, record labels, equipment manufacturers, and innovators, Making Vinyl is the key forum for exploring the past, present, and future of physical music.

For us, this event is more than just a gathering of industry professionals. It’s an opportunity to showcase our ongoing work with Evovinyl—a sustainable, compostable alternative to PVC records—and to engage directly with the people who can help bring positive change to the industry.

The vinyl revival has proven the format’s cultural and commercial power. But as production scales, so too does the responsibility to address its environmental impact. At Evolution Music, we believe sustainability doesn’t have to come at the expense of sound quality, manufacturing standards, or the artistry that makes vinyl so special.

By attending Making Vinyl, we aim to contribute to the conversation around how the industry can evolve responsibly. We’re looking forward to building partnerships, sharing insights, and working with others who are equally passionate about protecting the future of music—and the planet.

Introducing Evo Merchandise – A Sustainable Merchandise Option

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Introducing Evo Merchandise – A Sustainable Merchandise Option That Is Good For Planet And People.

Evolution Music Unveils Eco-Friendly Merchandising Service, Evo-Merchandise, at The Great Escape in Brighton

 Evolution Music, a leading advocate for sustainability in the music industry, is thrilled to introduce Evo-Merchandise, its latest endeavour in promoting eco-conscious practices. As a sister product to the acclaimed sustainable vinyl alternative Evo-Vinyl, Evo-Merchandise aims to create more socially conscious merchandising by offering artists, bands, label management, and promoters a range of sustainable options that align with the company’s core values of Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share.

As a joint venture with Simon Green of Blaqua and Brickhouse Design, Evo-Merchandise has partnered with internationally recognised leaders in sustainable fashion. By teaming up with supply chain partners certified by PETA, GOTS, OCS, GRS, and OEKO-TEX, Evo-Merchandise ensures that its products meet the highest standards of environmental responsibility and ethical production.

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“At Evolution Music, we’re committed to driving positive change within the music industry,” said Marc Carey, CEO at Evolution Music. “With Evo-Merchandise, we’re proud to offer a sustainable alternative for artists and music professionals who share our vision for a greener, more socially responsible future.”

Evo-Merchandise offers a diverse range of eco-friendly clothing options, including 100% recycled fibre short and long-sleeve t-shirts, recycled hoodies, and caps. In non-organic cotton production, an estimated 96% of water use is wasted. Organic cotton production recycles this water. Evolution Music’s partners go a step further, breaking the waste scrap material back down to their threads and remaking it into our garments. Utilising cotton recycled in this way, and recycled polyester/nylon, Evo-Merchandise delivers products that address environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues without compromising on quality. Additionally, all dyes used in the production process are OEKO-TEX certified, ensuring they are free from harmful substances.

Notable partnerships and collaborations further underscore Evo-Merchandise’s commitment to sustainability. EvoMerchandise has curated a collection of products, including T-shirts, recycled hoodies and caps with more products planned in the future. By leveraging over 30 years of experience in fashion, clothing design, sustainability and the music industry Evo-Merchandise sets itself apart in eco-friendly merchandise solutions.

In conjunction with the launch of Evo-Merchandise, Evolution Music is proud to announce its participation in The Great Escape in Brighton this year.

For more information on Evolution Music and EvoMerchandise and our commitment to sustainability visit http://www.evolution-music.co.uk


About Evolution Music
Evolution is a pioneering force in creating sustainable and ethical opportunities in the music industry. Through our flagship product EvoVinyl and new venture EvoMerchandise, Evolution Music is dedicated to finding and offering alternatives at every stage of the music industry, all the way from artist to consumer that prioritise Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share without any loss in quality.

@evolutionmusiclp

Media Contact:
Simon Green
simon@evolution-music.co.uk
http://www.evolution-music.co.uk

Springwise: Change the Record: Biomass Plastic in Vinyls

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Springwise: Change the Record: Biomass Plastic in Vinyls

Spotted: Vinyl is back – nearly 50 million vinyl records were sold in the US in 2023, a 14 per cent increase on the previous year. Drawn by the warmer, more authentic sound and depth that can only be experienced with vinyl, audiophiles are moving back to records. While this may be good news for the record industry, it is bad news for sustainability as vinyls are made from virgin PVC plastic.

Although global production of records only accounts for around 30,000 tonnes of PVC each year, startup Evolution Music argues that this number could just as easily be zero. The company has developed Evovinyl, a material made from sugarcane that can be used to replace PVC in the manufacture of vinyl records.

Read more at Springwise

Sustainability In The Industry and Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft

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Sustainability In The Industry and Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft

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Huge congratulations to Billie Eilish and her team on continuing to push the boundaries forward with real dedication. We are delighted to see significantly reduced impacts from the release of vinyl, in whatever form they come, whether that is improved recycling of PVC or use of lower impact alternatives to conventional PVC – so again, along with other concerned artists, with the support of organisations like Music Declares Emergency, Earth Percent and Reverb, Billie Eilish is taking a lead.

For major artists, major labels, and the biggest pressing plants, we know that a big concern is consistency of the product in large scale manufacturing runs. For this reason and many others, EM is continuing to perfect our Evovinyl product and understand how to get the best outcomes in pressing machines, including lower energy use. The team at Evolution are dedicated to the creation of a low impact, plant-based alternative for artists, labels and pressing plants that want an option that avoids support for plastics involving chlorine chemistry and fossil-fuel based materials. We are capturing data on the energy savings we are seeing in pressing, and are currently raising investment through a Seedrs crowdfunder so that (as an emerging independent business) we can progress many essential areas of business development, including undertaking a Lifecycle Analysis on our product and its manufacturing processes, so we can then provide solid data to the market.

In doing so we are concentrating on small run projects at the moment, and hope and expect to be involved in releases for major artists within the next 6 – 12 months.

To sum up, Evolution Music is working towards 5 primary goals:

Goal 1.

Offering Evovinyl as a primarily plant based material from field to factory

Goal 2.

Non toxic to the earth – subject to the availability of industrial recycling or composting systems and infrastructure, Evovinyl can be fully recycled or composted, and does no harm to the earth.

Goal 3.

Lowest energy consumption of any product – both in terms of the pressing process energy consumption and the fewer steps in the process making the raw materials and ‘recycling’ for its second life.

Goal 4.

When produced at scale, in the medium and longer term, this will be the same cost or cheaper and more stable in price than both PVC and other lower impact oil-based alternatives.

Goal 5.

Providing credible and robust data on all the above, so that the market can make informed comparisons and choices amongst the options available.

These are ambitious goals, but we know they are achievable – and we are here to stimulate evolution of the music industry after all!

So, let’s all rock on rapidly and robustly towards a sustainable future for the music industry!

PMC Invests In Evovinyl

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PMC Invests in Evovinyl

PMC has invested in Evolution Music Ltd., the UK based company spearheading the development of Evovinyl, a plant-based alternative to the environmentally damaging PVC that is currently used to press vinyl records. The investment will assist in the quest to move the music industry toward a more sustainable future.

Peter Thomas, PMC’s founder and 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). “I met with Bill and Marc at Evolution Music’s office where we talked about our shared passions for music, vinyl and the environment. Our conversation made me realise that while we are making products to replay music, and we love the sound and experience of vinyl, the creation of millions of records each year is very bad for the environment. Marc’s quest is a worthy one, of which I was keen to be a part.”

Global production of records accounts for around 30,000 tonnes of PVC per year (source – Disc International), and while that is a small percentage of the 40m tonnes of PVC produced each year, every sector has to do its bit to help reduce the damaging effects of this plastic.

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, to give it its full name, has been described as the ‘most environmentally damaging plastic’ (source – Greenpeace), due to its production, use and disposal, all of which result in the release of toxic chlorine-based chemicals which build up in the water, air and food chain.

Read more on the PMC website

Why We See Evovinyl As Music Made Better

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Why We See Evovinyl As Music Made Better

Steve Charter (Director, Sustainability Lead), Marc Carey (CEO), Kevin da Costa (Technical Director)

 

Evolution Music aims to provide solutions to multiple problems. 

We want to optimise the choices and actions that the music industry and lovers of music can take as positive responses to the significant problems of our time.

We aim to show in practice what ‘music made better’ means – to demonstrate why it is better, and show this choice is available now. We want those that choose our product to know that it is a step towards more earth care, people care, and fair shares. 

At the same time, we want people to know that we are all on a journey towards sustainability. So, at this point, ‘better’ means taking incremental steps. But these need to be significant steps toward a credible goal. Steps that have integrity in environmental, social and equity terms, in the products, the manufacturing processes, and in the supply chains that feed them.

There are 3 dimensions to this kind of evolutionary change to create music that is made better – net zero carbon, net zero waste, and net zero toxicity.  This is the basis of the 3D product and manufacturing model we want to make the norm in the music industry, by working with others to achieve these challenging goals. Because the planet is calling for this now, and so many of us are waking up to this need, and wanting it also. Because the reality is, that only a non-toxic world is truly sustainable. Why would you want to continue to pollute and toxify the living systems of the planet, for your children and future generations to have to live in and deal with?

As well as producing a high-quality product, we want to work with allies to build a movement for change. We operate with a small team, still face constraints in terms of capacity and resources, and have plenty to learn – as well as having plenty to offer. So Evolution Music is not looking to say things just for the sake of being in the news or social media space.

We want to demonstrate that circular economy principles and practices can be used to replace the harmful production and use of single use plastics, and to minimise waste at the same time. Our initial flagship Evovinyl™ bioplastic LP product is produced using pressing plants’ existing machinery and production processes – only the raw materials are changed. This makes it easy for labels and artists to take the ‘music made better’ path, to change to Evovinyl™ bioplastic LPs, instead of PVC. 

This is a path of making small changes with big effects. Making these small changes is like cutting a path through the undergrowth… it takes effort and determination from the pioneers (the R&D stage), but once the path is opened others can follow easily. These changes can be made now, because a number of different pressing plants have completed trials with us, using different pressing machines, to ensure the solution works for the main types of presses used across the world. There has been a lot of trial, error and learning in this process – learning about the materials, the manufacturing process and the people involved, which is summarised as follows:

A technical, manufacturing and business summary for record pressing businesses from Kevin da Costa (independent record manufacturing consultant and Evolution Music Technical Director) on why Evovinyl represents Music Made Better for the record pressing industry:

The approach from Evolution Music is not just understanding this material is good from the sustainability point of view with this material being made primarily from plants, but also recognising that for this to be taken onboard at scale, it has to be as good or better than PVC in terms of the quality of the product, and that it’s as good or better for the customer who just wants a good record in terms of their enjoyment of the music… whether they are into the sustainability aspects or not. And I think we have got this with our new material.


Then the holy grail is to achieve audio parity and price point parity, and we are getting close to that. When we have achieved this, then the use case trumps the narrative around sustainability, and customers out there have a genuine choice between a sustainable product compared to one that is not sustainable. Then it becomes a no brainer, and the question becomes why wouldn’t you use it?
At the same time for scaling this, we have to make sure the manufacturers, the producers of records, will take this on board enthusiastically. And this is to do with how the material goes through the presses and the extruder. Again we are getting there, at least with a good number of manufacturers being enthusiastic to work with us to achieve this goal.

Already, as a starting point, we know that producing the evovinyl material has a lower carbon footprint than PVC. And what’s fascinating is that from the results we are seeing, once the evovinyl material is in the press, it takes a lot less energy to produce these records than it would compared to PVC. For PVC it will take around 30 seconds in terms of cycle time in the press – with this material it is more like 16 to 20 seconds. And that means less heating time and less cooling time, and that’s a lot less energy being used to make these records. So there is an immediate energy saving – but this also fundamentally changes the options for heating, cooling and energy systems for running the presses, and for the amount of pressure needed to operate them – which is a more technical issue we can go into in more depth another time!

Another thing is this material is naturally antistatic. This is great news for the listener because they don’t have to deal with static on their turntable…. But also it’s really important in the manufacturing process, because PVC is naturally static which is a bit of an enemy in record pressing, because PVC draws dust particles into the manufacturing process, which can cause problems with pitting and spots, and pops and clicks on the sound… so it can lead to a higher rejection rate of the pressed records.

Finally, because it sets and hardens much quicker than PVC the work-flow is much quicker. The best case scenario with PVC records is you have to leave them to cool and set overnight before you can pack and ship them. With this material it hardens much quicker, so you can do that in 2 hours. So you can press, cool, pack and ship all in one day. So purely on business terms, on bottom line terms, over the year that could make a significant difference to any record pressing business.
All this means that purely on bottom line business terms, there is a very strong case for using this evovinyl material. So for me this is the holy grail of any product – it’s both sustainable and also actually better for your business.

What’s more, any ‘waste’ (e.g. trimmings) can be used to produce ‘Evovinyl regrind’ LPs, with the same quality of product as the virgin Evovinyl™ material. So apart from the essential job of flushing out the pressing machines to avoid PVC-Evovinyl cross-contamination, we’re essentially creating a near zero waste and 100% industrially compostable non-toxic product. This is inline with our aim to provide products and manufacturing options that deliver solutions to multiple problems. So these are four benefits that are specific, measurable aspects of why we see Evovinyl™ as music made better. So we know the benefits are significant, and come in many forms. 

It takes a significant effort to achieve ‘music made better’… but we know it can be done. We also know that if a small, independent company like Evolution Music can do it, then the whole industry can too.

Professor Kyle Devine’s book Decomposed (MIT Press, 2019) highlights many of the problems with the PVC supply chain. Once used to make a product, such as in an LP, PVC is very stable and not toxic in that form. However, the manufacturing of that PVC before it gets to the pressing plant, is a very different matter for human and ecological health. So we are actually pleased to see that some PVC companies are now offering various ‘bio vinyl’ options alongside their conventional PVC, with some going further than others. Our aim is to offer simply the best 100% reliable, non-toxic bioplastic alternative we can, which does not support companies that are still mainly producing oil-based PVC and other plastics that are dependent on manufacturing processes that have significant toxic impacts. 

We aim to do this firstly because there is clearly demand for cleaner greener alternatives. And secondly because it simply doesn’t seem that the planet and human / ecosystem health can handle the current load of oil-based plastics and toxic manufacturing anymore. We believe we need more positive and more radical, evolutionary alternatives. So that’s our purpose as a business, to provide those positive and more radical, evolutionary alternatives – and not to provide anything else. Our mission is to create ecologically sustainable solutions that will accelerate the evolution of the music industry to become earth friendly and socially responsible. So, the way we see it, with our flagship Evovinyl™ bioplastic LP product we are evolving passed the use of PVC vinyl.

We want to help create music that performs for people (listeners, artists and workers in the manufacturing process) and planet:

  • To push the boundaries of our experience and sustain our love of music.
  • To ensure artists, labels and music lovers produce and purchase music in good conscience.
  • To forge a frictionless path to encourage transition.
  • To help evolve the music industry to amplify this social and environmental message and catalyse responsible behaviour change.
  • To drive the development of robust, socially just, earth friendly methods to create and enjoy music – considering waste, pollution, carbon emissions, living and working standards.

We want to do this by:

  1. BRINGING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY PRODUCTS OF THE FUTURE INTO THE PRESENT – Innovating the development of products and services, that are better on every level – placing equal value on efficacy and social and environmental responsibility. 
  2. INSPIRING MUSIC LOVERS ACROSS THE GLOBE TO MAKE SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR CHANGES – Evolution will engage and educate music lovers to both understand the negative aspects of the status quo and inspire them with the possibilities for enjoying music with good conscience. 
  3. SIMPLIFYING AND STREAMLINING THE PROCESS OF CHANGE – Evolution will work to understand the barriers to behaviour change and build in solutions to encourage rapid uptake of earth friendly alternatives, across the supply chain. 
  4. STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT – Evolution are savvy to potential barriers to success in the music and plastics industries and will take professional advice and appropriate steps to protect their actions and the actions of those who partner with them in driving their mission forwards.

So, if you like the sound of Evovinyl and want to help accelerate the evolution to a low impact music industry, then check out the ways you can play your part in doing so on our website. We are taking orders NOW, with a significant project pipeline already building up, so we want to make sure this particular ‘music made better’ choice is widely available in 2024 and beyond, for artists and music lovers alike.

EarthPercent: A Charity Making a Positive Impact on Climate Change

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EarthPercent: A Charity Making a Positive Impact on Climate Change

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges that the world faces today, and it is a challenge that affects everyone, regardless of where they live, their age, or their occupation. This is where EarthPercent comes in, a charity that provides a simple way for the music industry to support the most impactful organisations addressing the climate emergency.

EarthPercent was founded in 2020 and is focused on getting resources to where they are most needed and stand the best chance of creating change at multiple levels. The organisation is focused on making grants that work towards three key objectives across five key areas of climate action: a greener music industry, just energy transition, protecting and restoring nature, legal and policy change, and climate justice.

One of EarthPercent’s primary goals is to improve the environmental impacts of the music industry. The organisation is working to ensure that the industry has a greener future that is cleaner, healthier, fairer, and supports thriving communities. This is achieved by investing in solutions that science has told us are necessary to protect and restore nature, change cultural norms and narratives, and target what the organisation calls the “hidden wiring” for system-wide impacts, including changing laws, regulations, and economic incentives.

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To achieve its goals…

EarthPercent has established key priorities to guide its efforts. These include improving research on music’s climate impacts, supporting tools and training for artists, companies, and fans, advancing nature-based and citizen-powered renewable energy, protecting and restoring forests, oceans, and soils, and ensuring clean air for all communities. Every grant made by the organisation is vetted by its expert advisory panel, which includes climate scientists, academic researchers, economists, climate communicators, youth activists, community organisers, and policymakers.

Since its establishment, EarthPercent has partnered with various organisations working towards climate action, including ClientEarth, Global Greengrants Fund, Cool Earth, and Julie’s Bicycle and in more recent times Evolution Music. These partnerships allow the organisation to provide funding to local and indigenous communities organising against new fossil fuel developments and carbon-intensive projects. The grants also fund rainforest labs that provide real-time satellite data to indigenous communities defending against deforestation.

In conclusion, EarthPercent is an important charity that plays a crucial role in supporting climate action. The organisation’s work is critical to ensuring that the music industry contributes to a sustainable future, protecting and restoring nature, and advancing renewable energy.

EarthPercent’s partnerships with other organizations working towards climate action enable it to achieve its goals and make a positive impact on the planet. With the world facing unprecedented environmental challenges, organisations like EarthPercent are more important than ever.

What is the EarthPercent x Earth Day 2023 campaign, and what are some of its initiatives?

The EarthPercent x Earth Day 2023 campaign is an initiative by the UK and USA based charity, founded by musician Brian Eno, to raise funds for organisations working to tackle the climate emergency.

The campaign brings together over 60 artists to support climate action, and it continues the success of last year’s campaign. Some of the biggest names in music are contributing exclusive tracks to the campaign, including Coldplay x H.E.R, dodie, Bring Me The Horizon, Lutalo, Machinedrum, Fink, Mystery Jets, Gabrielle Aplin, and many more.

Fans can download previously unreleased, unheard, or exclusive tracks from the EarthPercent Bandcamp page or the artists’ own Bandcamp pages from April 20th to May 6th.

All proceeds from the digital downloads will go to EarthPercent’s Grant Giving Fund, which supports organisations working on the frontlines of climate action.

In addition, the campaign will see the release of three new double A-side bioplastic Evovinyl™ records to raise money for climate justice and environmental organizations.

These records include tracks from Coldplay x H.E.R, CHVRCHES and Robert Smith, Victoria Canal, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Future Utopia, Franc Moody, Say She She, Holly Humberstone, Anna Calvi, Andy LeMaster, and Gaelynn Lea.