In two weeks, Haarlem once again takes center stage in the global vinyl scene. Making Vinyl – the leading international conference for the vinyl industry – joins forces with Haarlem Vinyl Festival in a one-of-a-kind collaboration. The result: for at least one week, Haarlem transforms into the undisputed vinyl capital of the world.
Please note: a separate Making Vinyl Europe ticket is required to access the conference, as entry is not included with Haarlem Vinyl Festival tickets. However, the combined Making Vinyl x Haarlem Vinyl Festival program on Friday, September 26, is accessible to both festivals’ ticket holders.
Use the code MAKINGVINYL15 for a 15% discount on your MV ticket.
Making Vinyl Europe: Lab and Sustainability
The highlights of the Making Vinyl conference (24-26th of September) unfolded chronologically across three days, seamlessly leading into the HVF program. We kicked off with upgraded matchmaking sessions, followed by in-depth talks on the future of physical media. Opening keynotes offered a clear picture of the state of the market, with insights from both manufacturers and record labels.
A new addition this year was the Making Vinyl Lab, dedicated to exploring industry challenges from the production side. Panels addressed how pressing plants are getting creative by building their own supply lines to meet client demand.
Sustainability took center stage next. We zoomed out to the broader PVC landscape, shared stories behind ISCC and ISO certifications, examined the realities of PVC recycling, and discussed how governmental bodies are working to create a healthy environment for change.
The “Waking Light” panel expanded the conversation further, bringing together festivals, policymakers, consultants, and manufacturing professionals to exchange perspectives and lessons.
We closed with an open, collective talk—accessible to the public—on what the industry is doing right now to push things forward. Without further ado, here are the 10 expected highlights of the 2025 Making Vinyl Europe program.
Highlights
The B2B Sensemaking Session: Regenerative Futures For Physical Media
This interactive workshop brings together diverse voices, including yours, to explore how we can position physical music formats as the most sustainable choice. Come and help us explore new possibilities for the future of physical music.
Our ultimate goal is to develop sketches and ideas for changes to current physical music products, new products and connected business models, and share them back with the group for feedback and inspiration.
We close by collecting key insights and planning ways to continue the conversation and collaboration beyond the workshop.
PANEL: Live A Little - The Future Of Vinyl (The Manufacturers)
Serving as the traditional kick-off our state-of-the-industry panels provided insight to the supplier side of our business. While still eager to learn how suppliers are doing we would like to change focus in 2025 and talk about the future. After years of growth, the arrival on the leeward of a booming industry and the consolidation that followed in the past year questions will receive answers circulating around topics like: Sustainability strategies (not ultimately with an ecologic connotation), energy efficiency, trajectory of the format itself and cultural developments. Looking back 25 years, the industry nearly collapsed - what’s the outlook for the next 25?
PANEL: A Hard Days Night - The Future Of Vinyl (The Labels)
In eight years of Making Vinyl Conferences supplier approaches have been widely discussed. Our industry has become more transparent and bonds and alliances between the manageable number of participants were formed. However, insight into the operational side of decision making what is being manufactured have remained rather superficial. That’s why we installed a second panel to give the labels and distributors a podium to tell us about their market approach and how they juggle with consumer demands and manufacturing decisions. We can expect first-hand answers to questions like: How do labels analyse consumer demand? What approaches are in place to mediate artist’s expectations? What drives the format currently and which shifts, obstacles and approaches will define our industry in the year to come.
THE MAKING VINYL LAB: Test Pressings - What They Are Made For
The increasing misconception of the purpose of test pressings seems to be an ongoing issue in our industry. While established, bigger manufacturers already have a standard implemented that in most details is shared and agreed, many smaller, newer plants seem to follow wrong assumptions, often forced by customers who have an increasing number ordering TPs to actively sell them, consider them as purchased products and a proof that a pressing plant is capable for a flawless job. The industry needs an agreed standard for communication and speaking with one voice. Now let’s create this standard. The goal shall be a manual/ document that postulates the industries’ view on it and can be shared.
PANEL: You Got It (Release It): Stripping Down the Value Chain – DIY And Creating Your Own Business
New technologies in self-promotion, the internet providing space and opportunities for artists to cut out the middleman and dive deep into learning and maintaining a business are topics that have been widely discussed in the music world in recent years. From the first years of Myspace and Facebook through Spotify, Bandcamp and Discogs the end of traditional distribution structures have been predicted. “No one will need labels anymore” was quite the culmination of extreme projections. While we know by now that labels have proven raison d'être we see them evolving directly from participants of the supply chain: pressing plants also acting as labels, cutting houses and studios creating their own imprint and creating cultural impacts. Let’s learn from some key players how being part of a local scene and being your own manufacturer help shaping music culture.
PRESENTATION: The complete manufacturing chain of PVC explained
The initial phase in problem-solving involves recognizing its existence. Equally vital is addressing the query: What is the nature and location of the issue? When delving into the sustainability of materials utilized in record production, it becomes crucial to gain insights into the entire supply chain of the planet's oldest thermoplastic. Where are the raw materials sourced from, how does the process of polymerization unfold, and which entities play a role in the formulation eventually employed in pressing records? This presentation aims to furnish a comprehensive response to these queries. Tracing the material flow from inception to completion allows for a deep understanding of the hurdles in achieving sustainability within the material's production chain.
PRESENTATION: Recycling Vinyl Records, the Real Story?
At the University of Groningen, researchers — in close collaboration with Cescco2 — are pioneering an innovative physical recycling method for PVC using supercritical CO₂. This initiative, led by Cescco2, aims to upcycle both soft and rigid PVC by efficiently extracting plasticizers and separating contaminants through a solvent-free, clean process. The result is PVC with over 99.5% purity. Following successful lab trials, a pilot plant with a capacity of 200–300 kg/hour is planned in Groningen by 2025, paving the way for scalable, green PVC recycling. This breakthrough offers a major step toward closing the loop on PVC waste — transforming decades of discarded material into high-value raw feedstock. What have they learned and what can we learn from it?
PRESENTATION: A Clean and Circular European Industry - What can we expect from Brussels?
In the wake of the dramatic growth of Europe’s remanufacturing market, this presentation will shed light on the main bottlenecks for circularity as well as the opportunities. Where do we stand in the need for harmonized green public procurement and economic incentives for circular solutions? How can the EU Clean Industrial Deal and Circular Economy Act create a stable, predictable level playing field with well-functioning markets for circular products and services, from design to reuse, remanufacturing and secondary raw materials? Key issues such as legally binding recycled-content targets and policies that facilitate free movement of waste across Member State borders but prevent unfair competition from imports of low-quality recyclates, need collaboration on international levels and intersectionality between industries. Is the European Commission ready for legislation following ambitious proposals? How to we approach the current need for clear, consistent regulatory frameworks and concrete targets to enable a truly circular, competitive European industry?
PANEL: Waking Light - Learn from each other
The intricate supply chain of vinyl records presents a complex process, characterized by the format's analog properties. It encompasses a series of specialized phases that necessitate unique skills, utilization of traditional equipment, and coordination across international borders. Addressing sustainability initiatives and evaluating their effects can be an overwhelming endeavor. Drawing lessons not only from related sectors but also from the cultural practices entrenched in the entertainment industry, to which we belong, may yield innovative solutions and insights. The purpose of this panel is to broaden our perspectives, foster unconventional discourse, and gather insights from industry partners on their strategies for overcoming hurdles.
PUBLIC PANEL: This Is How We Do It - The Path To More Sustainable Record Manufacturing
After extensive discussions and thorough examination of our industry's current state, multiple collaborative teams have been established to evaluate the environmental impact of producing vinyl records. These teams are focusing on a wide range of factors, including carbon emissions, waste management, energy consumption, and conducting comprehensive life cycle assessments. This concerted effort demonstrates the industry's commitment to providing transparent and accurate information that consumers demand. However, the diverse methodologies, objectives, and measurement criteria used by these groups may introduce complexity and potential confusion. It is crucial that we engage in dialogue, foster cooperation, and forge strong partnerships to navigate these transformative initiatives effectively. Let's explore how we can unite our efforts, work together seamlessly, and build impactful coalitions.