UK Loudspeaker manufacturer PMC has announced its investment 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.

PMC founder and Chairman – and keen environmentalist – Peter Thomas was introduced to Evolution Music CEO Marc Carey 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,’ Thomas says. ‘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.

‘Our main driver is a genuine concern for the environment. It is not greenwashing, but a real desire to try and do something to remove PVC from our industry,’ Thomas says. ‘We’re also going to be looking at this technology to see if we can use it to replace the plastic parts in PMC loudspeakers.

‘Everyone in the music industry should get behind this project. It’s not about PMC or me, but something much, much bigger than that. I have heard the latest test pressings and am able to confirm that they sound every bit as good as traditional records. Getting us on board, and hopefully bringing other members of the industry with us on this journey, will bring audiophile acclaim to the new product.’

The new material that has been developed is manufactured from sugar cane. It is a compostable product with no environmental impact upon disposal and has a sustainable ethos throughout the production process. The investment made by PMC will assist Evolution Music in the quest to move the music industry toward a more sustainable future.

‘We needed this project to be as sustainable as possible, from production to disposal, and so the life cycle analysis is very important to us,’ Carey explains. ‘Evolution will be working with an expert team as part of our R&D to complete a full LCA, to ensure that the people who grow the cane are working in a good environment and not using toxic fertilisers. This is not the case with some other so-called environmental alternatives to PVC.’

‘It also potentially enables the record presses to run at a lower temperature than is required for PVC. Testing to date has shown a 30 per cent energy saving if a plant switches entirely to this product. And it takes 50 per cent less time to press a record, so big energy savings are possible.’

After five years’ R&D the Evovinyl product is ready for entry into the marketplace. The sound quality has been assessed by industry professionals such as Rob Cass, in-house producer at Abbey Road Studios, who was speechless when he learnt that it was made entirely from plants; and Peter Thomas, who confirms that its performance is indistinguishable from traditional vinyl. Like existing vinyl, it can be pressed in any colour in addition to black, and an added advantage of this new material, for audio use, is that it naturally dissipates static, preventing the attraction of dust.

‘So with the product finalised and the major record labels keen to get involved – with one that has pledged to move all production over to the new material – and a number of established artists, including a multi-Grammy winning artist who has expressed interest in their next album being pressed using Evovinyl, we are in a good position to make a positive change to the audio and music industries’ impact on the environment,’ Thomas says.