Longbox

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of CD longboxes sparked significant debate in the music industry. Whitney Jones highlights how artists, including R.E.M., opposed the wasteful practice of using longboxes, which involved cutting down millions of trees only for the packaging to be discarded immediately 1. This resistance led to a pivotal moment when Jeff Gold proposed using the CD longbox to support the Rock the Vote campaign, linking it to the motor voter bill, which aimed to simplify voter registration processes 1.

Artists said, wait a minute, we don't want you cutting down millions of trees to put our CDs in and then having people throw these things away.

--- Whitney Jones

This initiative not only addressed environmental concerns but also connected music to political activism.

   

Industry Response

The music industry's response to the longbox controversy was multifaceted. Whitney Jones recounts a conversation with a Warner Bros. executive about the financial implications of longboxes, which cost the company $20 to $25 million annually 2. Jeff Gold suggested redirecting these funds to provide rebates to record retailers for reconfiguring their bins, effectively ending the use of longboxes 2.

As Jeff Gold tells it, the other Warner Bros. Executives liked his idea. They took it to the distributor, the distributor went for it, and that was the end of the longbox.

--- Whitney Jones

This decision not only saved money but also aligned with environmental and political goals.

   

Consumer Shift

Consumers and retailers had to adapt to the shift away from longboxes. Some stores invested in new racks for jewel cases, while others used reusable plastic cartridges to fit CDs into existing bins 2. This transition was part of a broader movement that saw the music industry embracing more sustainable practices and aligning with political causes like the motor voter bill, which significantly increased voter registration rates 2.

Between 1995, when the law went into effect, and 2012, the percentage of the voting age population that is registered to vote went up more than ten points.

--- Whitney Jones

The adaptation reflected a growing awareness of environmental and social responsibilities.