Major record labels pledge to be carbon neutral by 2050

The three major record labels – Sony, Universal and Warner – have signed a pact pledging to be fully carbon neutral by 2050.

The labels will first aim to reduce their carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, with the carbon-neutral aim 20 years later. Some independent labels have already begun repositioning their businesses preparing themselves to become carbon neutral.

The Music Climate Pact has also seen Secretly label group, Beggars Group, Warp and Ninja Tune join and pledge to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The pact will tackle business operations that contribute to carbon emissions like touring, vinyl pressing and music streaming. These activities are carbon-heavy and unsustainable at their current level.

Further to this, the pact will measure carbon emissions across the industry to educate and encourage artists to address the climate crisis. Coldplay has already committed to not tour to reduce carbon emissions.

Beggars Group consists of 4AD, Matador, Rough Trade, XL Recordings, and Young has pledged to halve its whole supply chain-related carbon emissions by 2030. They aim to achieve this by implementing lower impact vinyl and CD production techniques, switching to sea freight for shipping goods, minimising business travel, and educating staff on sustainability and environmental topics.

Ninja Tune has already switched their central gas heating system to an electric air-source heat pump throughout its offices in London, Los Angeles and Berlin. Plus a commitment to remove any operating vehicles from its business.

While also similar to Beggar Group they have retooled their vinyl and CD production. Stopping production and sale of CD jewel cases back in 2008 and their vinyl LPs are pressed onto 140-gram vinyl rather than 180-gram vinyl and all vinyl sleeves are made from recycled cardboard paper.

Sean Preston, Head of Manufacturing, Ninja Tune (London), said:

“One of the first things we tried looking at was shrink wrap replacement, you could not use shrink wrap at all, but the problem with that is, quite a few territories in Europe will shrink wrap themselves. Just because we’re not doing it doesn’t mean someone else down the chain won’t. We’re not only trying to change ourselves – we’re trying to change the way people do business.”