Bris Vinyl Pressing Plant To Implement World-first Sustainability Initiative

Suitcase Records – a family-run vinyl pressing plant in Brisbane (Meanjin) – has been named the best Australian business “innovating with sustainability” for the inaugural Xero Beautiful Business Fund, earning the company $20,000 in funding.

A press release vouches that Suitcase is committed to “spearheading sustainable ways of manufacturing records”, and with the $20,000 they receive from Xero, the plant’s team will be importing a world-first vinyl record bio compound. This will allow them to reduce the carbon output of vinyl pressing by 92 percent, compared to the black PVC compound traditionally used in the stamping process.

Suitcase is one of three vinyl pressing plants in Australia, and has been used to press releases from all three of the majors – Sony, Universal and Warner – as well as indie releases from the likes of Pete Murray and G Flip.

The news coincides with the tracklisting announcement for the first-ever Suitcase Showcase compilation, due for release before Christmas (a concrete date hasn’t been set, with the records shipping out as soon as they’re pressed). It compiles tracks from some of the artists Suitcase pressed in its first year of operation, all of which were voted on by fans. Highlights include songs by Vixens Of Fall (Ain’t Goin’ Home), Flamingo Blonde (Eddie), Hayley Marsten (I Knew The Pain) and Ghost Mutt (Crush).

As it’s explained on the pre-order page, “All profits from this album will go directly back to the artists who are featured. Profits will be split evenly between the artists and a separate share will go directly to Support Act who do incredible work within the Music industry.”

Those who opt to buy the record will also have the power to choose between a standard black record or one pressed on Suitcase’s “dealers choice regrind” vinyl, cobbled together from PVC left over from other colour pressings. In addition to being more eco-conscious, this option means every single copy will sport a unique colourway.