Environmental groups sound alarm on K-Pop’s CD problem

[Teletubby 134,233]

In an industry first, K-pop CD sales surpassed 100 million units in 2023, marking a 50% increase from the previous year despite the dominance of digital streaming. However, this milestone has raised concerns about the mounting environmental impact of physical album production, according to a report from French news agency AFP.

According to a study by Britain’s Keele University, producing a single CD generates approximately 500 grams of carbon emissions, per the AFP report. Environmental group Kpop4Planet, founded in 2020 by an Indonesian fan, has calculated that weekly sales from just one top K-pop group could generate emissions “equivalent to flying around the Earth 74 times.”

Seventeen, a popular South Korean boyband, alone sold over 5.5 million copies of their album FML in 2023, setting the record for the highest-selling single album in K-pop history.

This year, a large amount of Seventeen's new album '17 is Right Here' were being thrown away on the streets of Shibuya as people bought the album in bulk only for photocards.

Albums frequently include collectible items like limited edition “photocards” of artists or chances to win video calls with performers. “Each album is basically a lottery ticket,” K-pop fan Roza De Jong told AFP. “The narrative is very much ‘the more you buy, the bigger your chance.'”
K-pop fan Kim Na-Yeon used to buy stacks of the same album when there was a new release, hoping to find one of the rare selfies of her favourite stars tucked between the plastic covers.

Made with polycarbonate, CDs can be recycled but only through a special treatment process that prevents toxic gases from being released into the environment.

HYBE, the entertainment powerhouse behind BTS, responded to environmental concerns, telling AFP they are “using eco-friendly materials,” though specific details weren’t provided.

South Korea‘s environment ministry has attempted to address the issue with penalties since 2003, but the fines remain minimal compared to album revenue.

Kpop4Planet continues to advocate for change through protests outside music label headquarters and petition campaigns targeting what they term “Plastic Album Sins.” 
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[AMRer 2,754]

The companies should limit somehow this crime against nature, but I am afraid this is a cultural issue, where at least in Japan (what I know best) and it seems in Korea too, idol groups fans have always been buying dozens of the same cds in order to make their idols top the charts, so it seems like a difficult matter to solve 

Edited 5 hours ago by AMRer

[DopeEnigma 861]

Should at the least be an online thing on this scale, it’s beyond ridiculous, wasteful and bad for the environment. Also, where do these fans get all the money to keep buying multiple copies etc, I adore GaGa but I wouldn’t buy multiples of the same thing. One of the good things about streaming. 

Edited 4 hours ago by DopeEnigma

[Lucas 24,002]

6 minutes ago, DopeEnigma said:

Should at the least we electronic on this scale, it’s beyond ridiculous, wasteful and bad for the environment. Also, where do these fans get all the money to keep buying multiple copies etc, I adore GaGa but I wouldn’t buy multiples of the same thing. One of the good things about streaming. 

Yeah I don't quite understand people who buy dozens of copies of the same album to support people who are most likely worth millions already   And we know damn well most of the kpop idols have very shitty contracts, they probably don't get a single cent from the music.

But the kpop world is crazy, fans spend their entire days voting for their idols on random websites, streaming their content, collecting funds from fans from other countries to boost chart in their own country etc... they're like armies of extremely dedicated fans

Edited 4 hours ago by Lucas

[bionic 41,871]

environmental groups when kpop groups release a new cd

environmental groups when taylor releases another vinyl variant but this time she coughs in the background of one track (you can't hear it but she said its there)

 

[DopeEnigma 861]

40 minutes ago, bionic said:

environmental groups when kpop groups release a new cd

environmental groups when taylor releases another vinyl variant but this time she coughs in the background of one track (you can't hear it but she said its there)

 

Whether it’s K-POP or Taylor, it’s just as bad. I think they’ve focused on K-POP possibly because the waste amount of all these variants is notably worse and more damaging to the environment. 

Edited 4 hours ago by DopeEnigma