06:00, 14 February 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
“I try to make this world a little bit of a better place through my music.”
This is the bold way DJ and producer BLONDISH introduced herself. And that is exactly what she is doing!
BLOND:ISH is taking bold strides towards a more sustainable music industry, with the drop of a special BioVinyl release for her highly anticipated sophomore album, Never Walk Alone via Insomniac Records this Valentine’s Day, and being the co-founder of Bye Bye Plastic, a foundation on a mission to remove all single-use plastics from the music industry.
Smiley News sat down for an exclusive chat with BLOND:ISH, and the director of Bye Bye Plastic, Camille Guitteau, to learn more about their mission.
The idea to do a bio-based vinyl, came to BLOND:ISH through troll comments on social media, she explains: “Though Bye Bye Plastic we do different activations, and we create little mini movements. When we share these online, we often get comments from critics or trolls questioning our efforts.
“For example, when we talk about making festivals single-use plastic-free, people sometimes respond with, ‘What about CDJs? What about vinyl?’ They don’t seem to get that we’re focused on eliminating single-use plastics, not everything in the music industry. But after hearing those comments, we thought, ‘What if we could make vinyl plastic-free?’
“I love vinyl, but it didn’t feel right to press my album onto something made from fossil fuels. So, I spoke with Camille, and we wondered, ‘Could we create a plastic-free vinyl?’ It started as just a thought, but we went on a journey of research and development, experimenting with materials. Eventually, we found a bacteria-based material that can break down, and we realised we could use it to create a sustainable vinyl.”
Available to buy from Friday 14th February, BLOND:ISH’s newest – and first-ever – album vinyl Never Walk Alone will be pressed on bio-attributed PVC, made primarily from biogenic waste such as used cooking oil – making the album 99.98% petroleum-free and reducing carbon emissions by 90%.
While her album may not directly focus on environmental themes, it aligns perfectly with BLOND:ISH’S ethos of community, balance, and personal growth. The album serves as a reminder of the importance of connecting with ourselves and the world around us, a theme that is reflected in her sustainable practices and the work of Bye Bye Plastic.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, Bye Bye Plastic is a pioneering foundation committed to eliminating single-use plastics from the music industry and beyond. Co-founded by BLOND:ISH, the organisation works to raise awareness about the environmental impact of plastic waste.
The special release of the bio-vinyl album perfectly exemplifies the #PlasticFreeParty movement, the vision from which BLOND:ISH launched her foundation Bye Bye Plastic, to the bigger heights.
Many have shown their support for BLOND:ISH’s activism, further demonstrating that a significant number of people within her community – both the sustainability community, and her audience – feels a strong connection to her ideas and values.
“We're constantly growing in support. It's really super positive and refreshing to see that people you know want to be linked with us, and want to be active in the movement.” says BLOND:ISH
Adding to the explanation of the work of Bye Bye Plastic, Camille says: “We focus on engaging every stakeholder in the ecosystem, beginning with artists and DJs, as they have the power and platform to influence their fans and communities. They also play a key role in bridging the gap with event organisers, whether they are running festivals, clubs, or other events.
“Early on, we realised that the sustainability conversation in the events industry was mostly centred around festivals, so we made it a priority to also support and guide clubs in their efforts to go plastic-free.”
The foundation also hosts a range of initiatives such as the Zero Plastic Club which is an initiative based in France started in 2023, where 24 venues pledged to eliminate the use of single use plastic water bottles within the timeframe of 2 years.
The foundation worked with the owners and offered support through meetings, guidance and toolkits to help them accomplish the goal.
Camille added that the “club operators have been super positive”, adding that they are overachieving on the impact of this initiative.
To see out the end of the initiative, there will be a celebratory 2-year event on the 20th March at the Le Mazette in Paris.
Bringing the interview to a close, BLOND:ISH and Camille share a call to action for Smiley News readers:
“If you're in the music industry, such as a DJ, promoter, or venue owner, get in touch and join the movement.”
Head over to Bye Bye Plastic’s ‘Get Involved’ page to find out more on what you can do.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Bye Bye Plastic. This globally-operating foundation is focused on removing single-use plastics from the music industry through innovative initiatives and partnerships. Find out more.
Music Declares Emergency. This is a movement that unites the global music industry to take action on climate change and promote sustainability in music events, production, and touring. Learn more here.
Reverb. This US-based organisation partners with artists and festivals to reduce their environmental impact by offering tools and strategies for greener touring and reducing plastic waste. Support them here.
