2023 climate report

Sustainability is a core value for us (as they say, there's no music on a dead planet), and as we've just completed our carbon calculations for 2023 we wanted to share some data and reflections on the subject of environmental sustainability.

We've monitored our footprint for three years now using Impala's carbon calculator, and without further ado, here's the numbers:

• 2023: 11 tonnes CO2e
• 2022: 10 tonnes CO2e
• 2021: 8 tonnes CO2e

While we're trying our best to keep our footprint as low as possible, we're first and foremost a music company in service of our artists and writers. So sometimes we have to compromise between the most sustainable solutions on one side and what's best for business on the other. And as you can see, our footprint is growing every year so far. To us this is expected as we're growing as a company, on the other hand it's a fact that heightens our awareness of how to improve going forward. 

When looking at the development from 2021 to 2022, the main reason for the overall increase are to be found within travels and office equipment like computers etc. Travelling in 2021 wasn't really a thing due to Covid as you probably remember. 

Similarly the jump from 2022 to 2023 is also rooted in travels. In short, we visited more industry festivals than ever (such as SXSW, SPOT, Reeperbahn, MaMa etc.) and unsurprisingly flying in particular takes its toll. See the details below:

We have some informal company policies on the topic of sustainability. Here's what comes to mind:

• Don't manufacture more products than needed in the short- to mid term. This adds to the cost per unit but decreases the risk of having spent ressources producing dead stock.
• Use FSC-certified cardboard and paper products where possible (record sleeves, posters, print paper etc.)
• Manufacture vinyl records using either recycled granulate or bio-based PVC.
• In the rare case of manufacturing CDs, use covers made of 100% cardboard (ie. no plastic tray or similar).
• Avoid single use plastic when sealing products (we're sealing records with paper stickers, use recycled bags for merchandise etc.).
• Choosing renewable energy sources where possible.
• Use local manufacturing partners when possible.
• When producing wearable merch, use oeko tex certified garments, eecycled polyesters, recycled plastics and pure 100% organic cotton.

Finally we want to highlight Lucky Lo as a real champion of the fight for a more sustainable future. She released her album The Big Feel in October of 2023. The vinyl was pressed in Germany on recycled granulate and sealed by a sticker (as opposed to shrink wrap). The CD cover was cardboard only and sealed in a bioplastic bag. Similarly the accompanying long sleeve shirts is made from certified organic cotton and tested for harmful substances. The posters were printed on FSC-certified paper. Together we're donating 1% of all revenue from album sales (incl. streaming) to Earth Percent.