Carbon Footprint of Musical Instruments: Emissions for Brass, Woodwind and More

Kim Williamson, Author 8 Billion TreesWritten by Kim Williamson

Carbon Offsets Credits | January 20, 2025

Man contemplates the carbon footprint of musical instruments.

The carbon footprint of musical instruments is one of many contributors to the overall ecological impact of the music industry.

There are hundreds of different types of musical instruments in the world, and these are widely diverse in form, composition, and sound.

So, in order to make an analysis of the lifetime carbon emissions of musical instruments, you must examine each of the four primary families of instruments: brass, percussion, string, and woodwind.

Moreover, each part of the lifecycle must be explored to get the full picture.

This article takes a closer look at the prominent instruments in each of these families and examines what is currently known about their environmental effects so that the carbon footprint of musical instruments can be measured.

Exploring the Carbon Footprint of Musical Instruments

Musical instruments have been around since the dawn of modern humans, and many argue that they were around even before that. Evidence of drums made from a combination of tree trunks and animal skins or flutes carved from wood and bone date back millennia.8,22

In fact, “bone flutes” have been discovered alongside other ancient Neanderthal artifacts, with one particular flute dating back as far as 60,000 years!19

The musical tradition, so richly steeped in human history, will undoubtedly carry on for many millennia to come, though musical style and instrumentation change. Instrument design changes even now, and the carbon footprint of musical instruments is one of many considerations for designers and manufacturers (see “Carbon Footprint Factsheet”).4

Carbon footprint calculation for musical instruments is not as simple as plugging in a few numbers to render an estimate for the lifetime carbon emissions of any instrument. There is simply too much intervariability between instruments.

Indeed, anyone who has ever played or listened to both a harp and a trombone would hardly liken the two instruments!

Graphics showing the key factors contributing to the carbon footprint of musical instruments which include type, material and its sourcing, manufacturing location, production method. and usage and end-of-life practices.

The type of musical instrument is not the only factor that impacts its carbon footprint. Other relevant factors include:

  1. The materials the instrument is made of
  2. The way the materials are collected and processed
  3. Where the instrument is made
  4. How the instrument is made
  5. How the instrument is used, cared for, and disposed of

When exploring the carbon footprint of any product, a life cycle assessment which examines the emissions generated at each stage of the product’s lifespan is warranted.41 These types of in-depth studies reveal and illuminate the upstream (pre-production and production) and downstream (post production) emissions from a given product.

These life cycle analyses have yet to be published for various types of instruments, so this article explores the processes of making different types of instruments and how each component impacts the environment.

The Carbon Footprint of Stringed Instruments

Stringed instruments are among the most popular of all instruments. Sound is produced by strings of nylon or steel, often resonating through a hollow body or across a flat soundboard to produce rich, full tones.29

Many stringed instruments are played with a bow which is drawn across the strings to create the sounds, but the majority of stringed instruments produce sound when the strings are plucked or strummed. Examples of prominent stringed instruments include:32

  • Banjo
  • Cello
  • Double Bass
  • Guitar
  • Harp
  • Lute
  • Mandolin
  • Violin

The carbon footprint of stringed instruments is impacted by many factors and is just one part of the overall ecological impact of these instruments.

Firstly, the vast majority of stringed instruments listed above are constructed of wood. However, not just any wood can be used in the construction of a quality guitar, violin, cello, etc., and instrument makers have long relied upon a select few species of tree to supply the necessary tonewood.

Trees like Sitka spruce, Brazilian and Indian rosewood, and pernambuco heartwood have decreased in the wild due to deforestation (see “Sustainability and Musical Instruments”).27,9 Brazilian rosewood, Madagascar ebony, Japanese oak, and Spanish cedar, all of which have been used in the production of guitars through the years, are now endangered.39

The manufacture of stringed instruments contributes to deforestation. The act of felling trees mechanically burns fossil fuels and releases greenhouse gases into the air.

Furthermore, when a felled tree is processed, the unused parts are typically incinerated, releasing the tree’s embodied carbon into the air.

Next, the wood is transported to the factory where it is cut and sanded into the necessary shape. These processes require electrical energy, most of which is generated by fossil fuel combustion, hence carbon emissions.

The wood body of the instrument (guitar, cello, double bass, viola, etc.) is typically varnished to create a smooth, polished look. Varnish is a synthetic blend of many chemicals.

An image of a shop showing displays of traditional and stringed instruments made of wood.

(Image: Mario La Pergola51)

The process of manufacturing it releases volatile organic compounds (VOC) and vapors are also released into the air during application (see the EPA’s “Paint and Varnish”).42

After the body of the instrument is constructed, the strings are attached. Strings are primarily made from nylon (a synthetic plastic), or metals such as bronze or steel.

The processes for producing nylon strings create carbon emissions, as do the mining and processing of metals.11

Depending upon the instrument, its structure will comprise various elements of wood and metal. Finished products are often transported long distances by sea and air freight, producing more CO2e.

The amount of CO2e produced by consumer use also depends on the instrument. Some stringed instruments are electric, requiring electrical input for operation and also typically requiring other musical equipment, such as amplifiers.

Additionally, the strings are not built to last forever, and professional musicians might find themselves replacing strings as often as every few weeks. Most of these disposable parts wind up in landfills, where they won’t break down for hundreds of years.

The good news is that more companies are taking steps to protect the environment, such as building recycling programs for instrument materials, supporting conservation efforts, and directly driving reforestation.20, 30, 40

The Carbon Footprint of Brass Instruments (Metal Instruments)

Brass, a metal alloy of zinc and copper, is the most commonly used material in the construction of metal instruments because it is highly malleable and produces a warm tone. Brass instruments range in size from the small cornet to the hefty tuba and generally maintain some sort of horn shape.

Some of the most well-known instruments in the brass family include the trumpet, the French horn, the trombone, and the tuba.2

The process of manufacturing a brass instrument begins with the mining of the raw materials: primarily zinc and copper with small amounts of iron, lead, and other metals. The carbon emissions produced at this upstream stage of manufacturing depend upon factors such as the fossil fuel combustion of the machines used to mine the elements from the earth’s crust.

For perspective, a single mining truck is thought to generate as much as 2,400 tons of CO2e per annum, roughly equivalent to powering 284 homes for an entire year (see EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator).13,43 The copper and zinc ores must then be smelted to extract the raw metals from the concentrated mineral ores (see EPA Primary Copper Smelting).44

Smelting is a highly polluting process, believed to account for significant CO2e and particulate matter (PM) emissions, not to mention significant by-product waste in the form of slag and raffinate.31 Copper from scrap alloys is often used, but it must be processed by one of several methods to remove impurities.

The raw materials or finished products must also be transported to their manufacturing destination, often by sea or air freight, another carbon-intensive activity.

Types of brass differ with regards to the ratio of copper to zinc and other metals

The most common types of brass used in instrumentation are yellow brass (70% copper), gold brass (85% copper), and rose brass (85% copper). The higher the copper content in the instrument, the warmer the tone that is produced.6

A brass musical instrument on a stand.

(Image: Lucas Alexander52)

To manufacture the brass, the component parts must be melted down, combined, and poured into molds to cool.5 The refining furnaces used to heat and melt the metals and filter out impurities has long been the primary source of CO2e emissions in the brass industry.33

The brass is typically molded into sheets which are then formed to produce the bell shape of the instrument. The bells may be hammered by hand or spun on a mandrel to achieve the desired shape.24 Other working parts, such as valves, keys, slides, etc. are manufactured separately and assembled later.6

Brass instruments may also undergo acid washing to remove residue, a process that likely pollutes groundwater. Many brass instruments are also plated or lacquered, adding additional processing emissions.

While all of this information appears to paint a dire picture of the environmental impact of brass instruments, the upside is that brass is valuable and highly recyclable. Recycling old brass instruments and purchasing instruments from recycled materials reduces the need for much of the smelting and refining processes of instrument manufacturing.12

The Carbon Footprint of Common Orchestra Instruments and Band Instruments

There is a lot of overlap between orchestra instruments and band instruments, but a couple of distinguishing characteristics also. An orchestra is typically a large ensemble, composed of a wide range of instruments, with a heavier emphasis on stringed instruments than is common in big bands.

While traditional bands generally include the brass, percussion, and woodwind families, orchestras are dominated by the string family, supported by brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments. As brass and string instruments have already been discussed in this article, this section will focus on the remaining two families: percussion and woodwind.

Percussion Family

Percussion instruments are possibly the most diverse of all the musical families, at least in appearance. A percussion instrument is one that makes a sound when it is struck or shaken or scraped.

This is another music family where instruments made of metal are prominent. Examples of the wide range of instruments in this family include:21

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Cymbals
  • Maracas
  • Piano
  • Tambourine
  • Timpani
  • Triangle
  • Xylophone

The piano is an extremely popular instrument, and it has more moving and working parts than most other instruments. Pianos use a combination of many different raw materials, including wood, metals (copper and steel), plastic, and felt, and it can take up to a year to craft a single piano.

Sitka spruce of 200+ years is a popular choice for soundboards while the outer body may be constructed from various types of wood, such as mahogany, maple, and cherry.25 The body of pianos is usually finished with polyurethane or lacquer, synthetic liquids which create a glossy sheen but release Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) vapors into the atmosphere and also contribute to water pollution.28,45

Xylophones are constructed primarily of bars of tonewood, such as rosewood and Japanese birch, on a metal frame with a mallet of metal, wood, or rubber. Modern drums are usually constructed with a metal (usually brass, aluminum, or steel) shell and plastic head.36

Thus, the carbon footprint of percussion instruments is the combined impact of deforestation, metal smelting, wood finishing, and synthetic plastic production and processing, as well as transportation of the instruments, product use, and end-of-life treatment. Most instruments have recyclable parts, but they must be dismantled properly to make use of them.

Woodwind Family

Woodwind instruments, all originally constructed of wood, produce sound when a musician blows air across a thin reed at the mouthpiece.

Although the construction of woodwinds has changed over time to incorporate metal and plastic material parts, wood is still a primary feature in their construction. Some examples of woodwind instruments include:37

  • Bassoon
  • Clarinet
  • English Horn
  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • Piccolo

The flute is among the oldest of instruments, and it is also one of the most well-known and frequently played. Flutes have been made from a variety of materials throughout time, from the oldest flutes of bone to modern flutes of metal.

Some of the most common materials are wood, silver, bronze, and copper-nickel. Silver is probably the most popular material for flute construction, though it can run a bit pricey.

Cork from cork oak trees is also used to make the instrument airtight.38

Silver is mainly obtained through surface mining and open pit mining. Small quantities are usually extracted when processing metallic ores such as copper.

According to the EPA’s 2020 National Emissions Inventory Technical Support Document,46 metal ore mining is responsible for nearly 98% of particulate matter (PM25-PRI) emissions from mining and quarrying in the country.34,47 Because silver is much rarer than copper, more metallic ore must be mined to obtain the amount of silver needed to manufacture an instrument.

Thus, mining is the first large contributor to the flute’s carbon footprint. The next big factor is the smelting of the metallic ore to extract the metal and/or remove impurities.

Most furnaces used at this stage rely on fossil fuel combustion and use significant energy. Some methods for extracting silver rely on chemical processes such as cyanidation.17

Cyanide leaching can result in accidental groundwater contamination which is harmful to aquatic wildlife, though various steps should be in place to prevent this.26

After the metal has been mined and refined, it is molded into its desired shape. Metal flutes are typically constructed using a lathe, a machine that rotates the object for shaping.

Other machines are used to solder the pieces together, and chemicals are used to fortify the metals.38

Another element of the overall environmental impact of any instrument is the packaging and transportation. To protect instruments during transport, they are typically wrapped in generous protective packaging, which components may include plastics, papers, fabrics, and wood.

Packaging is one of the first places instrument manufacturers are looking to reduce their ecological footprint.

Note that the flute is a fairly small instrument, and some woodwind instruments, such as the contrabassoon, are many times the size of the flute, requiring significantly more material for manufacturing and packaging.

The Carbon Footprint of Plastic Instruments

Most familiar instruments are predominantly made from either wood or brass, but bamboo, wire, and even bone have been used in instrument manufacturing. Unsurprisingly, some instruments are also made of plastic.

People may assume that plastic instruments are primarily for use by children, but there is a significant market for plastic instruments that are made to professional quality.

Compared to brass instruments, plastic is lighter and cheaper. The downside is that the sound produced by a plastic instrument is less resonant.

ABS plastic is the most common variety used in the construction of plastic trombones, trumpets, and cornets. ABS is an acronym for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene,48 a combination of two types of plastic and rubber. This type of polymer is commonly used in household appliances, automobiles and electronics.

It is one of nine major types of plastic that together make up 80% of the market on plastics.16

According to a 2024 study on the environmental impact of plastic production, the largest contributors to GHG emissions from ABS production occur during the monomer production and polymerization phases. The overall GHG emissions from ABS production surpass 40 metric tons (Mt) of CO2e per annum.

Plastic production relies heavily on fossil fuels for energy generation.16

ABS plastic is highly recyclable, but this depends on consumers to follow the proper end-of-life steps. Otherwise, plastic instruments may contribute significantly to the overwhelming problem of plastic waste in the world today.

The Carbon Footprint of Carbon Fiber Instruments

Carbon fiber (CF) is a type of polymer,49 or fiber-reinforced plastic that is both lightweight and durable.

Carbon fiber instruments are trending in recent years, and they have many features that increase their appeal for both professional and amateur musicians. They boast a sleek design and polished look while producing a clear tone.

Carbon fiber is versatile, and many types of instruments are now being constructed from this material. Stringed instruments are the most commonly seen carbon fiber varieties, and they are strikingly beautiful in appearance.

Flutes and trombones are also sometimes made from carbon fiber.3 But how do they compare to other instruments in terms of their environmental impact?

Unsurprisingly, carbon fiber, as a synthetic compound, requires three energy intensive phases in its manufacture: stabilization, carbonization, and surface treatment.

Stabilization of the fibers is a lengthy process achieved through oxidation in a low heat furnace. Carbonization is achieved in two stages with increasing temperatures to remove the non-carbon elements in the fibers.

After stabilization and carbonization have been achieved, the surface of the carbon fiber must be treated, primarily through electrochemical oxidation. These combined steps consume considerable fuel for energy, mainly fossil fuel fed.

There are also gaseous emissions as a by-product that must be treated before the air is released.23

According to a 2024 study on carbon fiber production, the manufacture of 1 kg of carbon fiber results in approximately 29.1 kg of CO2e.23

Traditional violins typically weigh around 0.5 kg, violas between 0.5 and 0.75, and cellos around 3 kg.35 Because carbon fiber instruments weigh slightly less than traditional ones, they should be able to be manufactured from a relatively small amount of carbon fiber material.

While carbon fiber is recyclable, it does require several mechanical and chemical processes which degrade the quality of the fibers.14 More information is needed to determine how carbon fiber instruments compare to traditional instruments from an environmental standpoint.

Minimizing the Carbon Impact of the Music Industry

The growing carbon footprint of the music industry is fed predominantly by the live music sector: touring musicians, fan travel, live concerts, and music festivals, but merchandise, studio recording, selling and streaming of music, and musical instruments also contribute.15

So what steps can be taken to reduce these emissions? The first Music Sustainability Summit was held in Los Angeles in February, 2024, to address this very question and develop an action plan moving forward, per MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative.1,10

  1. Fans can carpool to live shows and avoid air travel when possible
  2. Waste at live shows can be reduced by providing/using refillable cups and bottles
  3. Musicians can invest in renewable energy sources for their live shows and travel commercially rather than by private jet
  4. Recording studios, music organizations, venues, and data center hubs can convert to solar or wind power for their operations
  5. Individuals and corporations alike can plant trees and support environmental activism groups

Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Musical Instruments

Understanding the carbon footprint of musical instruments is only the first step to making more informed, environmentally conscious decisions.

Graphics showing the different ways of reducing the carbon footprint of musical instruments which includes, learning how to make musical instruments from recyclable materials, choosing to rent, buying pre-owned or recycled instruments, taking great care of the instruments, rehoming instruments that are no longer used, recycling broken instruments, and disposing them properly.

As instrument manufacturers take on the monumental tasks of reducing manufacturing emissions, optimizing electric energy consumption during the consumer use phase, and incorporating and supporting a circular economy for musical instruments, there are also many smaller steps that individuals can take. Some examples include:18

  • Learn how to make musical instruments from waste material
  • Rent rather than purchasing instruments for beginners
  • Buy pre-owned or recycled instruments
  • Take excellent care of instruments to extend their lifespans
  • Rehome instruments that are no longer used
  • Recycle broken instruments and dispose of parts appropriately
  • Plant trees and donate to conservation efforts!

Where Can I Buy Recycled Instruments?

Choosing recycled instruments is a great way to reduce the carbon impact of instrument manufacture on the environment. While some companies are incorporating recycled materials in their products and some people are endeavoring to make their own instruments from recycled materials, others may simply be looking for pre-owned instruments in good condition.7

Luckily, many music stores and music exchanges sell pre-owned instruments of excellent quality at a reduced price, and a quick internet search should reveal the nearest available locations!

The music industry is experiencing steady and significant growth, and so is its carbon footprint. Although musical instruments themselves contribute a small percentage to the overall carbon footprint, this can still amount to thousands of tons of CO2 emissions per annum, not to mention the physical waste produced.

This article reviews various types of instruments, illuminating what is known about their environmental impact. It also outlines various ways to reduce the carbon footprint of musical instruments at the level of the individual.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Carbon Footprint of Musical Instruments

What Is a Carbon Footprint?

Plenty of individuals may still be wondering “What is a carbon footprint?” The term “carbon footprint” is used to express the total amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,50 or carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), produced by an entity, be it a person, company, product, or activity.4

Carbon emissions calculators are available to provide fairly accurate estimates of a given entity’s environmental impact.

Does Learning How To Calculate Carbon Footprint Manually Help Reduce Carbon Impact?

Various companies and websites, including this one, have developed calculators to provide reasonable estimates of carbon emissions from a given source. However, learning how to calculate carbon footprint manually may actually promote greater understanding and appreciation of human-driven climate change at the individual and community level.

Read More About Carbon Footprint of Musical Instruments

References

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