KeepGreenGoing

I’ve been thinking about this topic a lot lately, especially after some of the articles we’ve written on packaging. Should you buy conventional CDs or purchase digital downloads? Which method is more environmentally friendly? Which method is more beneficial for the artist? Let’s take a look at the two different processes:

Purchasing CDs

1. A band/artist records their album
2. The music is pressed onto billions of CDs
3. The CDs include artwork, inserts and are individually packaged and shrink-wrapped
4. The individual packages are placed in larger boxes for shipping
5. The larger boxes are shipped out across the world via trains, planes and automobiles to retail stores and online distributors
6. Retails stores often place stickers on the individual CDs
7. Online distributors place the CDs into other individual shipping boxes for order deliveries
8. From this point, two things happen:
   1. You drive to the retail store to purchase the CD
   2. A truck (UPS, FedEx) deliveries the CD to your residence

Digital Download

1. Log on to iTunes, Amazon or any other online digital distributor
2. Make purchase
3. Downloading begins

Obviously, from an environmental standpoint, our second choice seems most logical. But is it really that simple? What about the graphic designer who lives off designing CDs? Is his/her career simply turned into a JPEG format of an album cover? What happens to the value of the artistic approach poured into the layout, design, photography, packaging, typography and printing of conventional CDs? How much money does an artist make from the digital download? What happens when going green ends up cutting others out of jobs?

Artist in general often get significantly more money from CD sales, as apposed to downloads. It costs the label NOTHING for somebody to download an album (no manufacturing costs, shipping or any overhead) and yet the artist winds up making less from it. Seems like an oxymoron to me.

Still, purchasing digital downloads is far more environmentally friendly. It’s a tough debate though. It’s hard not to feel guilty about shunning your local record shop. And it’s becoming harder and harder to find used CD shops.

Personally, I love owning CDs. I love the packaging, the artwork and the idea that the artist receives the highest cut they can. I also like the idea of buying recycled CDs (or “used” if you prefer that term). 100,000 CDs are thrown out every month, so why not buy used? At this point, I’m not willing to settle on a correct answer… but am interested in discussion and to hear what others think about this topic. It intrigues me to learn how other earth-friendly folks have dealt with this dilemma. What do you guys think? What’s your insight?