MUSIC CLIMATE PACT

WORKING GROUPS

CLIMATE TRAINING

VINYL

DIGITAL

The Music Climate Pact’s working groups bring together industry experts to focus on key areas of climate action across music. Each group exists to identify shared challenges, develop practical solutions and support the sector in reducing its environmental impact. 

Chaired by industry professionals, the working groups are collaborative spaces for learning, discussion and action. Their work is driving best practice, shared understanding and meaningful progress towards a more sustainable music industry. 

Vinyl Group Priorities:

This working group is taking a science-based approach to quantify and reduce the impacts across the full lifecycle of records, from raw material processing to end-of-life disposal. The key primary outputs from this group are – a clear carbon reduction plan for the record manufacturing sector, a framework for demonstrating and communicating sustainable initiatives, defined best practice standards for carbon calculation and the associated reporting of the carbon impacts of vinyl records. Key to enabling this has been establishing a collaborative approach between Pact Signatories and record manufacturing supply chain partners to more accurately and efficiently factor environmental impact into decision-making.  

Digital Group Priorities: 

This group is focusing on creating a partnership between the MCP and digital music services for emission reduction and the development of collaborative environmental digital music initiatives capable of sustaining lower-carbon artist careers, as well as developing guidelines for the music industry and fans for steps they can take to reduce the environmental impact of digital music.

Climate Training Group Priorities:

The goal of this group is to ensure all record label staff are climate literate and can access department-specific training so they can understand their control and influence on the climate impacts of their particular work stream. The training created will be generally transferable across all labels and is free at the point of use to all record label staff.   

SELECT EACH GROUP BELOW TO SEE THE LATEST UPDATES FROM THE NOVEMBER MPC NEWSLETTER

  • Group Chairs: John Service (Key Production) & Ian Stanton (Beggars Group)

    The main focus for the Vinyl working group in 2025 has been the delivery of the Music Climate Pact / Vinyl Alliance Sustainable Supplier Program. Thanks to the leadership shown by the following suppliers, this program has managed to close significant data gaps in the record manufacturing supply chain and identify significant opportunities for carbon reduction:   

    Phase one of this program saw leading carbon consultants,  Climate Partner, independently calculate and validate 13 Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs). These were provided to participating suppliers in summer, 2025.  

    From this data, an insights report has also been completed, identifing average PCF profiles calculated in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for traditionally pressed records as well as injection moulded records for the first time. This report has been shared with all members of the MCP Vinyl Working Group and Vinyl Alliance Sustainability Group and all participating suppliers.  The report identifies opportunities to reduce carbon by up to 60% from both the manufacturing processes as well as the raw material choices.   

    From this data, Pact Supporter and Vinyl Working Group Member, Julie’s Bicycle, is developing updated average emissions factors at the global level as well as for manufacturers based in Europe and North America. These will be circulated alongside the final report and methodology in early 2026 to enable more accurate reporting , where supplier-specific data isn't available.  

    Phase Two of this program has begun to bring together participating suppliers and labels (Vinyl working group members) in a number of workshops to discuss and agree opportunities presented by these findings.  The first of these workshops itook place in December, 2025 and they will continue through the first quarter of 2026.   

    Using the data from this program as a baseline, the outcomes of these workshops will give the industry a framework to decarbonise record manufacturing in 2026 and beyond.

  • Group Chairs: Caroline Hansen (Warp Records), Lewis Jamieson (Music Declares Emergency), Karla Rogozar & Helen Smith (IMPALA)

    In recent months, the Digital WG has focused on finalising a set of public-facing recommendations for fans that provides guidance on how to reduce the carbon footprint of their digital music listening habits. This will be paired with a parallel set of recommendations for record labels, initially to be shared with signatories and supporters, guiding ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the digital music that they release. These record label recommendations are currently being drafted by the Working Group and will be finished within the first quarter of 2026.

  • Group Chair: RJ Frankenberry (UMG)

    In 2025, the second sub-committee has successfully launched the Tender as seen in Music Week, inviting providers to develop and deliver department-specific climate training for Music Labels. The Tender sparked strong interest with 17 companies enquiring for more information and ultimately attracting a wide range of compelling applications from 10 final applicants. It was decided to focus on training for the most impactful areas of the recorded industry – product design and supporting artists through label communication. 

    At the close of 2025 we have confirmed a partnership with one training provider. In January 2026 Sub-Committee Two will share insights into their selection methodology and the chosen partner with the rest of the Working Group.

    The next step is to form Sub-Committee Three to lead the fundraising efforts and support the development and launch of the programme in 2026.

Joining our efforts 

All employees of Pact Signatories, particularly those with expertise in the relevant areas (product design and distribution, both digital and physical, marketing and comms, artist management, fundraising, staff training), are invited to join these Working Groups. Please speak to your internal Pact Representative, the Group Chairs or Roxy Erickson to find out how to join.  

If you are an expert in the following arenas who would like to contribute to our efforts but are not employed by a Pact Signatory or Supporter, or have a query, please get in touch at roxy@musicclimatepact.com.