LONDON — European independent label trade body IMPALA is launching its carbon footprint calculation project in the US as part of a free pilot year to help US music companies measure and reduce their emissions.
IMPALA launched a carbon computer for the first time in Europe in 2022 in partnership with British sustainability charity Julie's Bicycle. The resource is designed to help record labels monitor their environmental impact by measuring energy and water use, staff travel and business travel, as well as the manufacturing and distribution of physical products such as vinyl records or merchandise.
The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), which represents more than 600 independent US record labels, is partnering with IMPALA on the pilot. The carbon calculator project is supported by global digital licensing company Merlin, which has provided funding.
Indie powerhouse Beggars Group, whose labels include 4AD, Matador, Rough Trade and XL Recordings, and London-based Ninja Tune are among the imprints with US offices involved in the project. A2IM and IMPALA say they are currently in talks with other interested companies to round out the core group with a full list of participants due to be published later this year.
In a joint press release, the two independent trade groups called the launch “the first step in launching the tool in the world's largest music market” and expanding it to other non-European countries.
“We are very excited that the US is the first region to internationalize the IMPALA Carbon Calculator,” he said. Richard Burgess, president and CEO of A2IM, in a statement. “Thanks to Merlin's support, our members will be able to shape the tool for the US market and play a key role in expanding its use.”
In his statement, Carla RogozarIMPALA's chief sustainability officer said it was important to give US independent labels access to the carbon calculator “to help standardize the [indie] approach of the sector in all regions”.
IMPALA's carbon calculator is part of the Brussels-based organisation's sustainability programme, which aims to halve greenhouse gas emissions before 2030 and reach net zero emissions before 2050.
Since its launch in April 2022, nearly 150 labels have signed up to the carbon computing initiative from 24 countries. The first report based on the data they submitted was published by IMPALA last year and found that labels using the tool produce an average equivalent of 3.21kg of CO2e for each physical CD or vinyl they release (based on the total carbon emissions produced in a label's entire business, not per physical release).
The largest source of carbon emissions for the independent sector is manufacturing, which accounts for 76% of emissions on average. Over three-quarters of this is attributable to vinyl production, which has a higher production carbon footprint than CDs.
The second highest source of emissions is the distribution of physical products, accounting for 15% of the carbon footprint for labels on average. This is followed by daily activities, including supplies, business travel and office energy, water and waste (about 9%).
A second edition of the carbon computing report will be published later this year, said IMPALA, which represents more than 6,000 independent music companies in 31 countries.
The US launch of IMPALA's carbon computer is part of a growing industry-wide push to improve environmental and sustainability practices across the music business.
Last year, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group joined forces to establish the Music Industry Climate Collective (MICC) – a new alliance to address and reduce the sector's environmental impact, supported by and powered by A2IM.
In 2021, all three major record labels, as well as independent labels BMG, Beggars, Partisan, Warp, Ninja Tune and Secretly Group, signed the Music Climate Pact, a broad commitment to “decarbonise” the global record business.
“Our path to a more sustainable future involves all of us working together,” he said Jeremy Sirota, CEO of Merlin, in a statement on Thursday (June 20). He said the launch of IMPALA's carbon computer in the US “will help more independents build that future together.”
Chiara Badiali, head of music at Julie's Bicycle, called the pilot project “an invaluable opportunity” to share understanding between European and American independent music companies. “Because tackling the climate crisis head-on means coming together, learning from each other and taking action collectively,” Badiali said.
