In May 2024, Key Production conducted a survey that found 69% of vinyl buyers want more environmentally friendly records. Now, Seabass Vinyl have set out to give the public what they’ve asked for – becoming the first recognised carbon neutral pressing-plant in the UK. Receiving certification from Carbon Neutral Britain earlier this week, the firm is Scotland’s first-ever pressing-plant, opening its doors in October 2023, and has its eyes set on becoming “the most sustainable pressing-plant in the world.”
Operating on the Macmerry Industrial Estate in Tranent, East Lothian, Seabass Vinyl – set up by husband and wife duo, Dave and Dominique Harvey – provides full packaging and artwork services, test pressings, stamper discs, and mastering, in addition to standard pressing runs. The pressing-plant aims to make “meaningful contributions” through its initiatives, co-operating alongside the Sound of Young Scotland Award to “positively impact the Scottish music industry.
The ambitious firm produces its own on-site energy and uses a bio vinyl product made from cooking oil by the Dutch business, Plastchem. This method can reduce carbon footprint of vinyl pressings by up to 90% compared to traditional PVC. Additionally, recycled off-cuts from previous pressings are repurposed, further minimising waste. Most recently, Canadian DJ BLOND:ISH has paved the way in promoting the use of bio material in vinyl production, debuting her sophomore record ‘Never Walk Alone’ (2025) on used cooking oil pressings via BioVinyl.
In conversation with Resident Advisor, Dominique Harvey commented, “Being carbon neutral-certified is a major milestone for us. We’re the first pressing plant in the UK to achieve this and, we think, in the world. It’s important for our customers that we minimise our environmental impact while manufacturing records of the highest quality.” Last November, the Vinyl Record Manufacturer’s Association and the Vinyl Alliance released a report examining the industry’s carbon footprint. Their findings revealed that producing a 140g vinyl record generates roughly 1kg of CO2e – comparable to the emissions from a single pint of cow’s milk.
This equates to the significant impact that the record industry has on climate change, when all things are considered – including distribution. The organisations behind the research also highlighted vinyl’s longevity, noting that it deteriorates slowly and seldom ends up in landfills. When properly cared for, records can remain playable for generations, preserving both music and material far beyond the lifespan of many other media formats.
As awareness grows, so does the demand for more sustainable vinyl solutions. A 2024 study by the UK’s largest physical music production broker, Key Production, revealed that 77% of music fans would be willing to pay a premium for records with minimal environmental impact.
Seabass Vinyl’s mission expands upon an international approach to sustainable record production. In 2021, Netherlands-based Green Vinyl partnered with UK not-for-profit label Needs on a compilation album ‘NEEDS009’ using environmentally-friendly technologies.
More information on record sustainability can be found on Seabass Vinyl’s official website.
