Evolution Music, manufacturer of a sustainable material for the production of vinyl records, has been nominated in the Music Consumer Innovation category for the Music Week Awards 2026, with its EvoVinyl product.
Backed by PMC Loudspeakers, EvoVinyl has been developed by Evolution Music as a plant-based alternative to the heavily polluting PVC that is traditionally used for vinyl records.
PMC’s decision to invest in the business comes from a meeting between Peter Thomas, owner and chairman of PMC and record producer Bill Gautier (Paul McCartney, The Cure, Fleet Foxes), who introduced him to Marc Carey, Evolution Music’s CEO.
“From our discussions I realised that while PMC makes products to replay music, and we all love the sound and experience of vinyl, the medium on which that music is presented is extremely bad for the planet,” explains Peter. “Greenpeace says PVC is the ‘most environmentally damaging plastic’ and for this reason I had to applaud and support Marc’s efforts in trying to do something about it.”
PMC subsequently invested in Evolution Music to assist in the quest to help move the music industry towards a more sustainable future.
The new material that has been developed is manufactured from sugar cane. It is a compostable product with no environmental impact upon disposal and has a sustainable ethos throughout the production process. EvoVinyl was officially launched at an event for the record industry, and attended by supporters, partners and future collaborators, including a number of the major record labels. The product is now ready for full commercialisation, having passed its production and critical listening tests and the first ‘A-list’ artists will be releasing music on EvoVinyl records in the near future.
The nomination for a Music Week Award is a huge boost for the awareness of the issue, as Marc explains, “We’re encouraged to see the music industry recognising the environmental impact of traditional materials and beginning to act. While the PVC used in records is only a small fraction of global production, real progress comes from sectors willing to take responsibility and lead by example.
“The music industry has always shaped culture — it can also help shape a more sustainable future. We’re committed to developing meaningful, scalable solutions that reduce environmental impact without compromising creativity. Being recognised alongside respected names in our field reinforces our belief that this is the start of genuine, lasting change — with music leading the way.”
The Music Week Awards is the only UK awards ceremony that honours people from across the industry – labels, venues, A&R, publishing, management and publicity, to name but a few. The award winners will be revealed on 7 May at Grosvenor House in London and are peer voted and judged by an independent panel of experts.