Carbon emissions – manufacturing and music…
This article was written by Ross Primmer from Action Sustainability.
Carbon is an ever increasingly important consideration for companies across the manufacturing sector in the UK. It is interesting how innovation and societal change affects how we consume the goods and services we need. We can look at the music industry as an interesting example – but consider how the principles discussed below can be applied to any business in the manufacturing sector!
A recent article in the New Statesman which compared the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions emitted during the manufacture of the three most common formats for consuming music; streaming, CD, and vinyl. You can see the results from their study in the graph below.
The manufacture of a vinyl record is roughly the same as 3.3 CDs, or streaming for 19 hours, or driving 5km in a petrol car, who knew?! It is perhaps easier to understand and visualise the carbon emissions associated with a physical product versus the huge power-hungry data centres which streaming services rely on.
However, streaming has also been accompanied with a huge increase in the consumption of music worldwide – there are an estimated 487 million people subscribed to a streaming platform. This means that despite streaming being by far the most efficient “per unit” way to listen to music, the overall footprint of music is increasing. It is estimated that in the USA carbon emissions of recorded music formats increased by 45% in the period 1977-2016 and 94% of this increase is in digital formats.
There are clearly limitations to this study. Is renewable energy being used? What if you buy your records and CDs second hand? What is the CO2e footprint of the equipment you are using? How power hungry is the amplifier you play your music through etc,?
This is known as the Jevons paradox, which occurs when technological progress increases efficiency but also increases overall consumption. In short, as things become cheaper more people consume the resource and, consumption increases globally, in some cases massively. For example, in 1985 Do They Know It’s Christmasachieved 3.8 million sales in the UK and was number 1. The current UK number 1 streaming record is Easy on Me by Adele who achieved 24 million (UK only) streams on week ending 28/10/21.
However, the purpose of this article is not to stop you listening to music. Far from it. As I write this article, I am enjoying the benefits of a well-known streaming platform! I think it is fair to say that the cultural, societal and even the economic benefits (just ask Lennon & McCartney) of music listening outweigh the negative impact from the carbon it generates.
In the big scheme of things, there are far bigger issues to tackle when it comes to the climate crisis. And as renewable energy plays an increasing role in energy generation globally, the carbon footprint of streaming is likely to improve too.
The publication of the New Statesmen article shows that we can get locked into the “carbon tunnel” which fixates on carbon, to the detriment of other sustainability considerations which must be factored in to form a balanced picture.
For example, in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic many music venues and artists face significant financial challenges. Losing them would be a huge cultural loss to society. The World Wildlife Fund also highlighted the instrument manufacturers Fender as scoring zero trees in their 2019 Timber Scorecard Report – meaning they have failed to communicate meaningful information about the sustainable sourcing of the timber they use.
As such, the carbon emissions associated with music consumption is perhaps a metaphor for the often glossed over and uncomfortable fact that we need to consider both efficiency savings and overall consumption to develop truly sustainable solutions.
My advice would be stream away, buy the odd CD or vinyl for your favourites, go to a few gigs, and, if you’re considering buying that Fender you always wanted, maybe get a second hand one!
About Action Sustainability
Action Sustainability are an organisation which provide bespoke sustainability consultancy solutions. Services include strategy development, workforce training and development, measurement and reporting and supply chain management, meeting the needs of clients from a wide range of sectors including automotive, rail, construction, hospitality, utilities and the public sector. The team also run and manage the Supply Chain Sustainability School.
If you would like to have a conversation about how to make your business more sustainable please contact ross@actionsustainability.com.
