How Coldplay is Turning River Plastic into Vinyl Records
While vinyl is making a comeback, its production and disposal have environmental consequences.
Modern records contain PVC, and while the carbon footprint per record is relatively low, the volume of production can cause harmful emissions and increased plastic waste.
Coldplay is working with The Ocean Cleanup to produce vinyl records made from river plastic removed from the Rio Las Vacas in Guatemala.
Coldplay’s collaboration
Moon Music is Coldplay’s 10th album released in October 2024.
The British band has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and demand for this one is no smaller.
The band has partnered with global non-profit The Ocean Cleanup to create an environmentally conscious limited edition of the record.
“Coldplay is an incredible partner for us and I’m thrilled that our plastic catch has helped bring Moon Music to life,” says Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup.
“Ensuring the plastic we catch never re-enters the marine environment is essential to our mission and I’m excited to see how we’ll continue innovating with Coldplay and our other partners to rid the oceans of plastic – together.”
This ‘Notebook Edition’ LP is manufactured using 70% river plastic collected from Guatemala’s Rio Las Vacas and 30% recycled plastic bottles.
The river plastic was collected by Interceptor 006, a device deployed in 2023 to prevent waste from entering the Gulf of Honduras.
This initiative follows Coldplay’s broader backing of The Ocean Cleanup’s mission to remove plastic from oceans and rivers.
The band financially supports the non-profit’s operations and sponsors Interceptor 005 in Malaysia, which was named “Neon Moon I”.
The successful development of this vinyl format was made possible through close collaboration with processing and manufacturing partners including Biosfera GT and Sonopress.
It marks a new stage in Coldplay’s drive to spotlight environmental action through innovation and music.
Recycled plastic vinyls
The vinyl format has enjoyed a strong revival, with UK sales hitting nearly six million units in 2024.
However, the traditional vinyl record is made from PVC, a petroleum-based plastic with a high carbon footprint and a decomposition period of up to 1,000 years.
A typical record contains about 135g of PVC, producing approximately 0.5kg of CO₂ emissions.
In response, artists like Billie Eilish, Nick Mulvey and now Coldplay are exploring eco-vinyl alternatives.
Each standard edition of Moon Music will be pressed onto discs made from nine recycled plastic bottles recovered from consumer waste.
Coldplay is also set to release the album on EcoCDs, a format composed of 90% recycled plastic, reducing emissions by 78% compared with traditional CD production.
The band estimates these efforts will prevent the creation of more than 25 tonnes of virgin plastic and reduce carbon emissions by up to 85%.
Coldplay’s sustainability impact
Coldplay’s environmental ambition extends well beyond studio releases.
The band has been at the forefront of eco-touring since 2021, when the Music Of The Spheres tour was launched with a goal to cut carbon emissions by 50%.
Using solar-powered lighting, sustainable aviation fuel and kinetic floors, the band exceeded that target with a 59% reduction compared to their previous tour.
Moon Music continues this legacy, not just in material choices but in its collaborative ethos.
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