Read on to discover what PET plastic is, how production processes differ and if a record made from recycled plastic bottles is "up to scratch" compared to traditional PVC pressings.

“A few years ago, Sonopress created an eco-vinyl using PET plastic (recyclable polyethylene terephthalate) and have been able to produce record pressings of a really high quality.

I’ve been cutting Coldplay lacquers for over 20 years and they were one of those who picked up on it straight away. We did a load of test cuts for their previous album Music of the Spheres and refined the cutting process to be as good as it could be.

Sonopress have different grades so you can have 50% recycled or 100% recycled, but the really good thing is that they sound almost identical to the best conventional PVC black vinyl pressings.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) records are dirty, so we’re committed to working with suppliers who are exploring processes that don’t pollute the environment. Approaches like this will be good for the world, good for music and good for business.”

“The 140g EcoRecord rPET LP version will be the first ever made of its kind. Each copy will be fashioned from nine recycled PET-plastic bottles taken from post-consumer waste. Compared to traditional 140g vinyl, this approach will prevent the use of 25 metric tonnes of virgin plastic, while also reducing 85 percent of CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process.” – Rolling Stone Magazine

“We set out with the ambition that the quality of the EcoRecord should match that of a conventionally produced vinyl LP in terms of sound quality. It should not only convince the experts, but above all offer the music lover an excellent feel and a great listening experience.” - Sven Deutschmann, Managing Director of Sonopress

“With Moon Music this year, we tested a load of different coloured vinyl for surface noise, etc. before the band decided they’d do it for this new release. I’m really pleased because it’s quite a groundbreaking record to cut!

The actual pressing process is slightly different, it's an injection mould rather than traditional pressing which uses less energy and gives a better stamper life, meaning less lacquer production. So how do you want it? Dirty or green?”

The full range of rPET EcoRecord LP's are available accessible from coldplay.com