A group of leading independent labels including Secretly Group, Warp Records, Ninja Tune, Beggars Group and Exeleration Music have teamed up to launch a recycled vinyl campaign, arriving on 5 June 2026 to coincide with World Environment Day. The initiative will see a series of albums reissued on 100 percent reclaimed vinyl across the UK, US and Canada.
The campaign is being delivered in partnership with Music Declares Emergency and the Music Climate Pact, with a focus on reducing the environmental impact of vinyl production.
Recycled vinyl releases span decades of independent music
The launch catalogue includes titles from artists such as Bon Iver, Elliott Smith, Bonobo, Chuck Prophet and Black Country, New Road.
Confirmed releases include:
- For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver
- Roman Candle – Elliott Smith
- You’re Living All Over Me – Dinosaur Jr.
- Forever Howlong – Black Country, New Road
- Black Sands – Bonobo
- Artificial Intelligence – Warp Records compilation
- Tubeway Army – Tubeway Army
All records will be pressed using 100 percent reclaimed materials, including manufacturing waste, unsold stock and production offcuts, removing the need for new fossil fuel-derived PVC.
Industry targets manufacturing emissions
Vinyl production remains one of the largest sources of carbon emissions for record labels. According to campaign partners, shifting to recycled materials offers a practical route to reduce that footprint without compromising audio quality.
Ben Swanson, co-founder and COO of Secretly Group, said:
“Manufacturing is typically the highest source of carbon emissions for record labels, and through working closely with our vinyl plants, Secretly Group has cut our manufacturing footprint by 70% against our 2023 baseline. Increasing recycled vinyl production and partaking in a collective effort are the next pieces of the puzzle in making our industry a more sustainable one. We’re stoked to be partnering with our peer labels, distributors, record stores, and fans on this campaign…”
Ian Stanton, head of sustainability at Ninja Tune, added:
“Using repurposed material offers sound parity with virgin vinyl, and yet it is currently habitually underutilised despite the efforts of sustainability focussed pressing plants.”
Growing demand for sustainable music formats
The campaign arrives as demand for sustainable physical formats continues to rise. A 2024 survey by Key Production found that 69 percent of vinyl buyers would purchase more records if they were sustainably produced, while 77 percent said they would be willing to pay a premium for eco-conscious formats.
Alongside the recycled vinyl push, alternative manufacturing approaches are also emerging. Sonopress recently introduced EcoRecord, a long-playing format made from recyclable PET, following releases in Europe from artists including Liam Gallagher, Ed Sheeran and Marina.
Campaign aims to shift industry standards
All releases in the recycled vinyl campaign will be manufactured at pressing plants aligned with sustainability initiatives including the Music Climate Pact and the Vinyl Alliance Sustainable Supplier Program.
By coordinating across multiple labels and artists, the campaign is designed to demonstrate that reclaimed vinyl can support large-scale commercial releases, with organisers aiming to encourage wider adoption across the industry.
