Sonopress Launches EcoRecord Production In The United States
First production line successfully commissioned at new Charlotte, North Carolina site.
Following months of preparation and planning, Sonopress—a global manufacturer of storage media and a subsidiary of Bertelsmann Marketing Services—has successfully launched its first production line for EcoRecords in the United States. The new facility in Charlotte, North Carolina is specifically designed for the environmentally friendly production of the company’s innovative sustainable LPs and marks an important milestone in its international growth strategy.
Customers are impressed
“Key customers—including representatives from music major Warner Music Group, who recently toured the new facility—were unanimously impressed and welcomed our decision to manufacture our sustainable long-play records locally in the United States,” said Sonopress CEO Sven Deutschmann.
With an initial annual production capacity of around one million EcoRecords, the Charlotte facility lays the foundation for further growth in the North American market. Sonopress expects demand in the U.S. to grow steadily and is ready to scale up capacity quickly and flexibly as needed.
Sustainable record production
The EcoRecord is a groundbreaking innovation in LP manufacturing. Instead of conventional polyvinyl chloride (PVC), it uses recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as its base material. Production relies on an injection molding process that eliminates the need for natural gas and steam, reducing environmental impact by up to 85 percent compared to traditional methods.
Since its launch just over a year ago, demand for the EcoRecord has steadily increased. The first major order was produced in March 2024 for Warner Music Group: the debut album from the duo Liam Gallagher & John Squire. Since then, numerous other artists—including Ed Sheeran and Coldplay —have embraced this eco-friendly alternative to traditional vinyl.
Closer to Customers in Key Markets
At its headquarters in Gütersloh, Germany, Sonopress now operates three machines with a total annual capacity of up to three million EcoRecords. “With the start of production in the U.S., we are consistently pursuing our goal of scaling our sustainable manufacturing strategy internationally while enhancing proximity to customers in the world’s most important music markets,” Deutschmann emphasized.
