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Billie Eilish Announces New Album

Billie Eilish, the internationally renowned musician, has revealed the details of what is expected to be one of the biggest albums of 2024. The superstar announced that her highly anticipated third album, titled “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” will be released on May 17. Excitingly, no singles will be released in advance, and the album will be experienced as a complete work.

Eilish, known for her unique sound and distinct style, has also made an environmental commitment by publishing a sustainability plan for the album. In an effort to minimize her ecological footprint, the album’s vinyl copies will be made from recycled or eco-vinyl, and all packaging will be crafted using recycled materials.

Eilish is truly breaking new ground with her eco-friendly initiatives. Album sleeves will be 100% recycled and re-usable, and the ink used will be raw and plant-based, further reducing the album’s environmental impact. Additionally, she will be using water-based dispersion varnish instead of harmful chemicals. This commitment reflects Eilish’s unwavering dedication to reducing her carbon footprint and using her platform to make a positive impact.

A Push Towards Environmental Responsibility

The decision to prioritize sustainability in the vinyl production process stems from the growing environmental concerns associated with vinyl sales, which reached 5.9 million units in the UK alone last year. Traditional vinyl production has a substantial environmental impact, with plastic materials and non-recyclable packaging creating significant carbon emissions.

Eilish, a prominent climate campaigner, explained her perspective and motivation for making a change during an interview with Billboard. Reflecting on her upbringing, she emphasized her parents’ influence on her awareness of the impact of choices and actions on both people and the planet. Thus, she felt compelled to address the environmental issues associated with vinyl production and consumption.

“My parents have always kept me well informed and hyper aware that every choice we make and every action we take has an impact somewhere or on someone, good or bad, and that has always stuck with me. I can’t just ignore what I know and go about my business and career and not do something. That’s just not how I was raised, or how I want to live my life,”

Eilish’s sustainability-focused album serves as a significant step in prioritizing eco-friendly practices within the music industry. Embracing this environmental consciousness sets the stage for other renowned artists to follow suit and inspire lasting change.

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Promoting Change and Challenging Industry Norms

Eilish’s determination to minimize waste extends beyond her album’s sustainability plans. In a thought-provoking interview with Billboard, she criticized artists who release multiple vinyl formats solely to boost album sales, referring to the practice as “really frustrating.”

Eilish challenges the notion that success requires excessive formats and packaging variations, highlighting the wastefulness and negative environmental impact such practices generate. Despite this, she will release eight vinyl variants of “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” She has, however, ensured that the album’s artwork and track-listing remain consistent across all editions, reducing the incentive for multiple purchases.

The standard black variant will be produced entirely from recycled black vinyl, while the other seven colored editions will be made from eco-mix or BioVinyl. The eco-mix utilizes recycled vinyl offcuts, resulting in each disc being uniquely patterned. Single LP colors will be created using BioVinyl, a sustainable alternative that replaces petroleum with recycled used cooking oil. By utilizing BioVinyl, carbon emissions are reduced by 90% compared to traditional LP production, without compromising audio quality.

Furthermore, Eilish’s commitment to sustainability extends to other elements of her music production. She plans to use recycled materials for cassette casings and sustainable fabrics for her tour merchandise, ensuring all items are created with either leftover stock or organic and recycled materials, and using non-toxic dyes to avoid chemical pollution.

Billie Eilish expresses hope that her sustainable album will set a new standard in the music industry, encouraging more artists to adopt similar practices. She believes that these initiatives should become the norm, signaling that sustainability goes hand in hand with music and artistic success.