Sonopress, a global leader in media manufacturing and entertainment services, has started the production of EcoRecord® — the world’s first long-playing (LP) record made from recyclable PET — for the US market, marking a major advance in sustainable music production. Among the key collaborators supporting this innovation, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, supplied the specialty PET resin that enables high-fidelity audio performance in the EcoRecord® format to Sonopress in Charlotte, North Carolina. The launch follows EcoRecord®’s European debut with albums for Liam Gallagher & John Squire, Ed Sheeran and Marina.

EcoRecord® aligns the music industry with broader climate and sustainability goals. In addition to its recyclability, EcoRecord®, eliminates the need for natural gas and steam in production, cutting CO2 emissions in the manufacturing process by up to 85% compared to traditional PVC vinyl records. According to the 2024 survey by Key Production, demand for sustainable music formats is rising rapidly. The study found that 69% of vinyl buyers would purchase more if records were sustainably produced, and 77% were willing to pay a premium for eco-conscious formats. As sustainability becomes a growing priority across industries, including entertainment, EcoRecord® presents a scalable, lower-impact alternative for music labels and artists worldwide.

Sustainability and Quality
“We want to lead the music industry in offering sustainable alternatives while preserving the audio quality that listeners expect,” said Sven Deutschmann, CEO of Sonopress. “EcoRecord® is a huge step in that direction — made possible through close collaboration with trusted partners like Indorama Ventures, whose specialty co- polymer materials meet the technical and sustainability standards this format demands.”

As part of this collaboration, Indorama Ventures supplied their innovative specialty PET resin chosen for its clarity, mechanical strength, and moldability, all essential for high-quality audio playback. The material was tailored to work with Sonopress’s advanced high-pressure injection molding systems, originally designed for optical media production.

Local Access, Global Capability
Beyond performance, Sonopress selected Indorama Ventures in part for its strong regional and global presence, enabling local sourcing model which helps to reduce transportation-related emissions. “This collaboration with Sonopress demonstrates the expanding potential of our innovative specialty PET in new applications,” said Marc Potemans, Head of Specialty Chemicals in Indorama Ventures’ Combined PET segment. “We’re proud to support Sonopress in their vision for a more sustainable music industry — aligning with our own commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship.”

With an initial annual production capacity of approximately one million EcoRecords in the U.S., Sonopress lays the foundation for further expansion in the North American market. According to CEO Deutschmann, Sonopress expects demand in the US to grow steadily and is well-positioned to scale production capacities quickly and flexibly as needed.