PMC Invests In Evovinyl To Help Bring A Sustainable Future To The Production Of Vinyl Records

PMC has invested in Evolution Music, the UK based company spearheading the development of Evovinyl, a plant-based bioplastic alternative to the environmentally damaging PVC that is currently used to press vinyl records. Involved as a loudspeaker manufacturer for studio monitoring and home listening, PMC believes the company's investment will assist in the quest to move the music industry toward a more sustainable future.

Good intentions for sustainability, circularity, or simply reducing your carbon foot-print in the development or manufacturing stages not always produces the intended results. Mike Klasco reminds us how things are not always as simple as we would like, and that having good intentions and throwing empty claims might work on paper, but not actually work in the real world.

Known for its high-end, responsibly produced audio equipment, thinksound has launched its first over-ear headphones — the ov21 — using Eastman Trēva engineering bioplastic that contains more than 40% bio-based content derived from sustainably harvested trees. The new ov21 reference headphones from the Toronto-based company can be preordered online now and will be in stock in October 2021.

In the first part of this article, Mike Klasco discussed the contribution of the enclosure on perceived overall product quality as well as sonic clarity. This second part of the article looks closely at material testing, evaluation and manufacturability, and other more recent approaches to enclosure materials, including Thermosets and Thermoplastics, Bulk-Molded and Sheet-Molded Thermosets. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, May 2019.

Global specialty plastics provider Eastman collaborated with engineering consultants DW Designs to mold and test beryllium models in ear monitor housings using a variety of materials. Eastman's John Quigley and DW Designs' Dan Wiggins recently presented their findings at the annual CanJam @ Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest held in Denver October 5-7, 2018.

What are my two cents on criteria for sustainable product design? Bioplastics, sustainable, biodegradable, or end of life recyclable attributes are all aspects of a truly green product. I think that a conscionable green design philosophy focuses on the total integration of “good citizen” eco-friendly materials and processes and long, useful life.