Needs Records partners with Green Vinyl Records to produce a world first injection moulded,
Needs moves into the future of vinyl production partnering with Green Vinyl Records in Holland to produce a 100% recyclable record which uses 60% less energy cost compared to traditional vinyl production methods. This revolutionary step in vinyl history features the production skills of Saoirse, Reptant, Sansibar, Pugilist, LUXE and Hassan Abou Alam.
For Needs009 we welcome another all-star lineup of producers, established and emerging, from around the world. Featuring room 1 ready Techno from one of the scenes leading lights Saoirse; a Bass heavy, Electro-Tech weapon from Melbourne’s Pugilist; the cosmic Electro baselines of the irrepressible Reptant; an otherworldly space excursion courtesy of Finland’s finest Sansibar; dancehall inflected Acid Trance from London-based up and comer LUXE; and to round things off some twisted breaky Tech-House from Egypt’s latest export Hassan Abou Alam.
“Over the years vinyl has been a difficult subject for us. There was even a point where we seriously thought about becoming a digital only label. But after a period of intense research we came across Green Vinyl and found a solution to do what we love and in a way which is ethical, progressive and pushes the format forward. Hopefully through this release we can raise awareness about this revolutionary new technology and inspire others to think about the way they produce vinyl.” Bobby (Founder)
THE PROBLEM
With 4.3m vinyl sales in the UK last year (the 12th consecutive year of growth), it’s clear that vinyl is back in a BIG way. But the basic technological principles of record pressing have not changed for a century. While the vinyl boom has been a bright spot for physical media lovers and the record industry alike, pressing vinyl poses a more urgent environmental concern than it did in the format’s heyday. At times, the process can seem almost antithetical to green living. Records are made of PVC, which comes from refined oil and can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill. Traditional pressing machines are powered by steam boilers that require fossil fuels to generate heat and pressure; the water used is treated with anti-corrosive chemicals in order to prevent rusting, thus creating more wastewater. And that’s just the pressing procedure.
Consider, then, vinyl’s packaging and distribution. The ink that’s used to print cover art and liner notes is traditionally solvent-based, meaning it contains volatile organic compounds that can contribute to the production of ozone. Once the record is encased in a beautiful jacket, it’s then shrink-wrapped in plastic wrap before boarding a gas-burning,
carbon-emitting truck to ship. Suddenly the choice to buy physical music shifts from an action that helps sustain an artist’s career, to one that potentially threatens broader sustainability.
THE SOLUTION
In 2019 we started conversations with Green Vinyl, a brand new pressing plant based in Holland, who have devised a revolutionary production method which uses injection molding rather than steam energy, equaling 60% less energy cost than the traditional vinyl production. It also uses no PVC and is a 100% recyclable product, meaning you can dispose of it in your home recycling bin.
The other benefits are that the record sounds better (it has a wider frequency spectrum), it cannot warp, and it also has a longer play life.
The key features of a Green Vinyl produced record are:
Injection Moulding instead of steam pressing
60% less energy cost
No PVC
100% recyclable product
Wider frequency spectrum – sound is equal or better than traditional vinyl pressing
Longer stamper life time – can be played more than 400 times (traditional vinyl starts to deteriorate after 100 plays)
Rapid vinyl turnaround of 8 weeks (wait times are generally 12-16 weeks)
No warping of records
No paper labels
Green Vinyl is currently the only pressing plant in the world with this technology and we are proud and honored to be the first label to work with them and share this amazing new technology with you all.
Available now here
