Universal Music and optimal media launch groundbreaking BioVinyl partnership
Universal Music Germany and optimal media are pooling their innovative strengths to reduce the environmental impact of physical music production. With immediate effect, local vinyl releases from Universal Music in Germany – with the exception of pure distribution titles – will be produced as sustainable BioVinyl pressings as standard. Universal Music is thus setting new standards in the field of environmentally responsible sound recording production in close collaboration with one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality vinyl productions, optimal media.
Bosse is kicking off this pioneering partnership: His new album „Stabile Poesie”, due for release on 17 April, is the first official BioVinyl release under the partnership and was manufactured at optimal media’s production site in Röbel/Müritz.
„For me as an artist, it is of great personal significance that the vinyl edition of my new album meets more environmentally friendly standards. My new LP is therefore very resource-efficient and reduces CO₂ emissions. I am delighted to launch UMG’s new BioVinyl initiative with “Stabile Poesie”, says Bosse.
With the introduction of BioVinyl, Universal Music is underlining its commitment to systematically integrating environmental responsibility into its own value chain. At the same time, this addresses the desire of numerous artists for more sustainable production standards.
The technological basis is an innovative BioVinyl process that replaces fossil-based petroleum with biogenic raw materials – including recycled used cooking oil. The result is a chemically identical alternative to conventional PVC that guarantees the familiar sound quality, whilst reducing CO₂ emissions in PVC production by more than 80 per cent.
from left: Frank Briegmann (Chairmen & CEO of Universal Music Central Europe and Deutsche Grammophon), Jonas Haentjes (CEO of Edel SE & Co. KgaA, Managing Director optimal media)
from left: Philipp Hahn (Head of Vinyl Production at optimal media), Axel Bosse with the freshly pressed BioVinyl of »Stabile Poesie«
„With BioVinyl, we demonstrate that technological innovation and the highest quality standards are fully compatible with sustainable action. Together with Universal Music, we are advancing a solution that integrates seamlessly into existing production processes while delivering significant ecological improvements. Since the beginning of the year, optimal media has also been producing all records using 100% renewable electricity – another milestone for sustainable manufacturing and the reduced use of fossil energy across the entire production and supply chain. As an internationally active production partner, we see it as our responsibility to actively shape sustainable physical media production and establish it as a new industry standard,” says Dr. Jonas Haentjes, Managing Director of optimal media.
„We are redefining the relationship between artists, fans and the label by embedding sustainability-focused partnerships into our supply chain and making them tangible as concrete added value for our artists,” emphasises Frank Briegmann, Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Central Europe & Deutsche Grammophon. „What began as an innovation initiative in the supply chain and is closely intertwined with our corporate social responsibility goals is now becoming the new standard for our domestic artists. This demonstrates very clearly that sustainability is not an add-on for us, but a corporate commitment, conceived strategically and implemented operationally.”
Source: Universal Music press release
Bosse visits optimal media
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