US singer and long-standing climate campaigner Billie Eilish is releasing her latest album on recycled and eco-vinyl, with all packaging also made from recycled materials.
The move is being heralded as a “significant step” in the green movement as Eilish follows the likes of Coldplay, who have tried to make aspects of the music business more eco-friendly.
The 22-year-old multiple Oscar and Grammy winner will also publish a sustainability plan with the ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’ album, set to be released on 17 May, as she looks to cut its environmental impact.
The album will be released on eight different vinyl variants, produced “with the most sustainable practices available”, according to the Ocean Eyes singer’s website. It also says the LPs will use raw, plant-based ink and water-based dispersion varnish, while the album sleeve will be 100% recycled and re-usable.
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The standard black variant will be made from 100% recycled black vinyl, while the remaining seven coloured vinyls will be made from Eco-mix or BioVinyl – which is created using 100% recycled compound made of leftovers.
They will all use raw, plant-based ink and water-based dispersion varnish, while the album sleeve will also be 100% recycled and re-usable.
“These pieces are recycled and re-used for production of future discs; therefore, every disc will be unique and look different from the last,” reads a statement on the singer’s official website.
“Additionally, Billie is using recyclable compound for her single LP colours, collecting all first run scraps to re-use for additional runs later. BioVinyl helps reduce carbon emissions by 90% vs. virgin vinyl by using non-fossil fuel materials like used cooking oil or industrial waste gases while maintaining the same audio and optical quality as conventional vinyl.”
On the album’s packaging, the website also says all the Billie Eilish packaging is made from FSC-certified recycled paper/boards made 100% from post-consumer waste and recycled pre-consumer fibers.
“The ink used is raw plant-based and water-based dispersion varnish. In place of shrink-wrap, the sleeves are 100% recycled and re-usable. For shipping, all finished goods are packaged and shipped to depots in up to 93% recycled and 100% recyclable shipping boxes.”
Billie Eilish is a lifelong eco campaigner and has previously hit out at artists who release multiple vinyl formats to increase sales.
“We live in this day and age where, for some reason, it’s very important to some artists to make all sorts of different vinyl and packaging,” Eilish said in an interview with Billboard, “which ups the sales and ups the numbers and gets them more money.”
