Responsible Merch Guide helps artists create greener products
A new industry guide is helping artists and teams make smarter, more sustainable merchandise choices.
Sustainability is becoming a key focus across the music industry, and merchandise is now firmly part of that conversation. From clothing to physical formats, the way products are made, packaged, and sold can have a lasting impact on the environment. Now, a new initiative, the Responsible Merch Guide, is helping to make those choices clearer and more accessible.
As reported by Music Ally, a new Responsible Merch Guide has been launched to encourage “better environmental and ethical choices” across the merchandise ecosystem. The guide is designed to support those creating and selling merch by offering practical advice on how to reduce environmental impact while maintaining quality.
The Responsible Merch Guide brings together guidance on key areas of merchandise production. This includes choosing more sustainable materials, understanding certifications that verify ethical sourcing, ensuring fair labour practices, and improving packaging for products such as vinyl and CDs. These are all important factors that can influence how environmentally friendly a product really is.
One of the biggest challenges is the complexity behind the scenes. Supply chains are often global, and it can be difficult to track where materials come from or how items are made. Berish Bilander, CEO of Green Music Australia, explained, “Artists, managers and labels often face real challenges when trying to make more sustainable choices about merchandise, from complex global supply chains to limited visibility over how products are made and what materials are used.”
Because of this, having clear and simple guidance is essential. The Responsible Merch Guide aims to turn these complicated decisions into more manageable actions, helping people make informed choices at every stage of the process.
The guide itself is the result of collaboration between Green Music Australia, Reverb, and The CSO Shop, alongside sustainability experts Julie’s Bicycle. By combining knowledge from across the music and environmental sectors, the guide offers a well-rounded approach to sustainability. It is also intended to be updated regularly, ensuring it stays relevant as new materials and practices develop.
Cheeringly, the wider conversation around eco-friendly merchandise continues to grow. Many artists are already exploring ways to reduce their impact, whether that is through better materials, lower waste production, or more thoughtful packaging. There are also practical ideas already being shared across the industry, such as those found in our eco-friendly merch guide, which highlights simple ways to make merchandise more sustainable.
Ultimately, merchandise is more than just a product. It represents a connection between music and fans. Making that connection more responsible can have a positive impact far beyond the music itself. Madeline Weir, director of impact at Reverb, said, “We wanted to give artists, managers, and teams a practical tool to make thoughtful choices, so that merch can support both fans and the planet.”
The Responsible Merch Guide reflects a wider shift in expectations across the industry. Sustainability is no longer a niche concern. It is becoming a standard that more people are paying attention to. Making sustainable merch is not about perfection, but more about progress. With clearer guidance and better awareness, it becomes easier to take steps in the right direction and build a more responsible future for music.