Powered by renewable battery systems and backed by MIT researchers, the band proved that massive tours can reduce their climate impact without sacrificing production value, fan experience, or profitability.
As environmental awareness grows among fans and performers alike, record labels are uniquely positioned to lead the shift toward more sustainable touring and releases.
Whether choosing recycled materials for merchandise, eliminating wasteful packaging, or partnering with carbon offset programs, labels don’t need to wait for an industry-wide mandate. They can start making an impact now.
Let’s break down what that looks like.
The Problem With Touring
From private jets to semi-truck caravans, touring can generate tens of thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.
Artists like Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, and Jewel are already rethinking the traditional model. Sheeran’s 2022 European tour minimized flights to cut emissions to just 150 metric tons. For reference, this was twelve times less than a comparable tour by Dua Lipa. Jewel, meanwhile, shared equipment and crew with fellow artist Melissa Etheridge to reduce costs and environmental impact. And Coldplay’s tour was a standout example of sustainable innovation. It was powered entirely by solar-charged batteries and guided by a partnership with MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative.
Labels can play an active role by:
- Encouraging green tour routing and travel coordination
- Supporting artists in building eco-conscious riders
- Using carbon audit tools like the IMPALA Carbon Calculator from the Music Climate Pact to track Scope 3 emissions, such as freight, hotel use, and stage energy.
Touring can still happen. Sustainability just means doing it more responsibly.
The Merch Table Goes Green
Merchandise is often a fan’s first point of physical connection with an artist. At the same time, it’s also a common source of waste. Polyester shirts, plastic wrapping, and one-size-fits-all printing can result in mountains of landfill-bound material. Fortunately, that’s starting to change.
Nonprofits like REVERB have worked with major artists to replace single-use plastics, power festivals with solar batteries, and promote reusable fan items. Billie Eilish’s team, for example, committed to plant-based catering for her entire tour crew and emphasized waste-reduction efforts at every stop.
Labels can support greener merch strategies by:
- Partnering with vendors who use organic or recycled fabrics
- Offering biodegradable packaging or digital-only bundles
- Encouraging artists to stock only local event-based merch to avoid excess shipping
These practices cut emissions and often resonate with fans who increasingly want their purchases to reflect their values.
What About Vinyl and Physical Releases?
Vinyl may be booming in popularity, but its eco-footprint is far from light. Due to PVC-based materials, a single record can emit up to 1 kilogram of CO2 during production. Add in packaging, shipping, and shrink-wrap, the numbers climb quickly.
That doesn't mean abandoning physical releases altogether. It simply means rethinking how they’re made. Vinyl pressing alternatives, including recycled or ocean-bound plastics, are under development through partnerships between various green organizations.
Labels can also reduce their footprint by:
- Using lightweight, plastic-free packaging
- Working with local pressing plants to reduce shipping emissions
- Limiting special edition runs and focusing on digital-first distribution
For some artists, a well-crafted eco-vinyl release becomes part of their identity. It’s about more than sales. It’s about syncing physical products with purpose.
Streaming’s Hidden Carbon Footprint
While digital music might seem the cleaner option, the reality is more complex. Streaming requires a vast data center infrastructure that consumes significant electricity. Depending on usage estimates, that number is between 200 and 350 million kilograms of CO2 globally annually.
Streaming is here to stay, but labels can optimize their strategy in the following ways:
- Encouraging offline downloads to reduce repetitive data transfers
- Partnering with platforms that invest in renewable energy (Apple Music and Spotify have made major strides here)
- Promoting streaming-conscious fan behavior through campaign messaging
Labels can also ask streaming platforms to be more open about their environmental impact, especially when working with artists who care about sustainability.
Carbon Offsets and Activist Partnerships
Not every impact can be avoided. But it can be offset. More artists are getting involved in carbon offset programs, and labels are starting to do the same. For example, Brittany Howard gives $1 from every ticket sold to REVERB Music’s Decarbonization Project, which helps clean energy initiatives replace diesel generators at festivals.
Other innovative partnerships are emerging:
- Planet Reimagined gets fans involved at concerts by encouraging them to take action on local climate issues and community causes.
- Sounds Right, backed by EarthPercent and UNLive, helps artists, streaming platforms, and digital services work together on climate-focused projects.
When labels align with these programs, they help the environment and help artists become cultural leaders in sustainability.
What Labels Can Do Starting Now
Here’s a simple checklist for becoming an eco-friendly label:
- Audit your current emissions using industry-standard tools like the IMPALA Carbon Calculator
- Offer eco-conscious vinyl and merch alternatives
- Work with tour managers to plan cleaner travel and greener venue setups.
- Support artist-led climate efforts through partnerships with trusted environmental groups.
- Communicate your efforts openly—fans reward transparency over perfection
Labels that lead the way in sustainability will earn more trust, loyalty, and staying power.
Eco-Friendly Touring & Releases: the Takeaways
Touring isn’t going away. Neither are vinyl releases. But with the right tools and mindset, tours and physical releases don’t have to hurt the planet. Labels play a key role in shaping a greener future.
It’s not enough to have a climate policy. It needs to be reflected in every merch drop, tour stop, and release.
Looking to manage your catalog, optimize distribution, and stay aligned with a greener future? Reprtoir gives you everything you need to streamline operations while supporting a more sustainable music industry.
Explore our tools today and lead your label into the future—smarter, cleaner, and more connected.
