Benefits

Cables generally available on the market have always had a similar basic principle: A conductor made of copper, enclosed in a jacket made of PVC. But what is often not taken into account: Due to some additives, a problem-free recycling of PVC is not possible! 

With our ECOCORD line, we rely on a completely new jacket material that dispenses completely with PVC! Sustainable and, most notably, at least of the same high quality as anything that has been used before.

Our alternative to PVC is called TPE-V. The so-called TPEs (thermoplastic elastomers) combine a rubber-like and a thermoplastic component. The rubber-like properties provide, for example, elasticity, softness and flexibility, the thermoplastic materials stand for recyclability, hardness and high service temperatures. TPEs are not chemical but purely physical cross-links, which can be reversed in a recycling process by high heating. The waste materials, which are thus separated from one another again, can then be reprocessed individually. This represents a major advantage over PVC in the recycling process, because PVC waste is, on the one hand, not (or only in a very difficult process) degradable and, on the other, harmful chemicals are released into the environment in the respective disposal processes.

In addition to that...

• ...The material is recyclable. 
• ...Energy consumption during production is significantly lower than for conventional PVC materials. 
• ...TPE-V is 25% lighter than PVC.
• ...All of the production takes place in Europe to keep supply chains short.
• ...For every cable sold, a tree will be planted by the non-profit organization Trees for the Future. 
• ...The textile jacket of the Eco Hemp series is GOTS certified. 
• ...Even the packaging is made of recycled gray cardboard (FSC® mix).

But, of course, when it comes to sound, our ECOCORD cables also provide everything that musicians and sound engineers expect from a high-quality Cordial product. Similar to the EDITION-25 and BLACKLIGHT-EDITION series, a double shielding of copper wire braiding and conductive plastic (minimizes microphony effects) and a conductor cross-section of 0.50 mm² (conductor resistance < 39 Ω/km) ensure a particularly clear signal transmission.

ECOHEMP was awarded the Red Dot Award 2023 on 19 June. The award ceremony took place at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen during the Designers' Night. With approximately 20,000 entries each year the Red Dot Design Award is one of the largest design competitions in the world. The internationally highly respected seal signifies exceptional design quality.

More information

On 23 May 2023, the instrument cable ECOHEMP was awarded the German Innovation Award 2023 in Gold at the Futurium in Berlin. In the "Excellence in Business to Consumer - Entertainment Electronics" category, the jury of experts decided on the PVC-free instrument cable in a fabric sheath made of hemp. For Cordial, this is a great motivation for further steps towards the most sustainable products in the ECOCORD line, to come. 

More information can be found here

The ECOCORD instrument and patch cables in various versions: 100% PVC-free - with a recyclable sheath made of TPE-V.

The avoidance of PVC in the ECOCORD sheath material means significant positive aspects for people and nature. In addition, ECOCORD comes with further features in terms of sustainability: more information here.

The ECOCORD instrument cables are available in 3-meter and 6-meter lengths with two straight 6.3 mm NEUTRIK® connectors (ECOCORD PP) and with one straight and one right-angled 6.3 mm connector (ECOCORD PR). In addition, both versions are also available in the NEUTRIK® silentPLUG® version.

Also available: the likewise PVC-free patch cables ECOCORD RR (with two 90°-angle NEUTRIK® plugs) and ECOCORD RR-PANCAKE with extra-flat and thus particularly space-saving plugs from REAN® by NEUTRIK®.

The jack plugs come in a special Shabby Chic design (except for the silentPLUG® and Pancake versions).

The double shielding of copper braiding and conductive plastic as well as a conductor cross-section of 0.50 mm² (conductor resistance < 39 Ω/km) ensure particularly clear signal transmission.

All information on ECOCORD instrument and patch cables can be found here.

The non-profit organization Trees for the Future (TREES), headquartered in Maryland/USA, advocates special concepts that have been tried and tested for decades to reforest woodlands and at the same time fight poverty in affected regions. 

We are fully aware of the fact that certain components of an assembled cable still do not sufficiently meet the requirements of complete sustainability, especially with regards to the conductor made of copper as well as to the connectors. To compensate for these deficiencies at least to a certain extent, we have entered into a cooperation with the world-renowned non-profit organization Trees For The Future, under which a tree will be planted for every ECOCORD series cable sold.

Further information about our cooperation with TREES can be found here

What good is a sustainable product that lacks a sustainable packaging? So, consequently, our approach towards the sustainability of our ECOCORD / ECOHEMP products in as many areas as possible, logically also included the product tag properties. That's why we use recycled gray cardboard, which has a particularly good environmental balance and is FSC® Mix certified.

According to FSC® Germany, the FSC® Mix stipulates the use of materials from FSC-certified forests and/or recycled material as well as material from controlled sources in production. At least 70% of the used material must be FSC®-certified or post-consumer recycled or at least an equivalent amount must be used in the production process of the labeled goods. This is confirmed by the FSC® Mix seal on the ECOCORD / ECOHEMP tags.

The tag design
The design of the tags, which are used for all products in the ECOCORD series, features a matching uncoated paper / gray cardboard (2-color) and stands out well from other Cordial product tags.

On the back of the tag explanations regarding the product are summed up in a visually appealing way - so that you already know what it's all about when you buy the product.

For further product tag information click here

During the ECOHEMP development process, it was beyond dispute that the new hemp fabric jacket must be able to withstand all the constant stresses and strains that musicians are typically confronted with. Therefore, we commissioned the renowned, independent inspection authority DTNW Öffentliche Prüfstelle GmbH in Krefeld to test various textile jacket materials - including the ECOHEMP hemp fabric jacket - under various typical scenarios.

Various checks were carried out in the test laboratory resulting in an excellent assessment in every particular and the granting of the required test certificate for the ECOHEMP jacket material.

More information on the respective test procedures can be found here

*By the way, in the picture the white sample is the hemp textile coat - the matching brown/green shade was added at a later date.

The complete (100%!) fabric material of ECOHEMP cables consists of a braid of special hemp fibers. This natural raw material has been used for the production of fabrics for thousands of years and that is why we also rely on this sustainable alternative to the otherwise customary textile jacketing.

In doing so, we have observed the strictest standards: Our textile jacket has been granted the prestigious GOTS certificate (Global Organic Textile Standard) *(TRANSACTION CERTIFICATE NUMBER ICEA TC GOTS 2022 80775 3179). This means that environmental requirements as well as social standards are met along the entire production chain and that only organically produced natural fibers are used.

Some decisive factors for the optimal use of instrument cables in a musician's daily routine are, of course, a high degree of flexibility and good windability. To ensure that this requirement is also met as regards the fabric jacket, the machines used are operated in the so-called "low-speed process" mode during braiding, i.e. particularly slowly, so that an exceptionally elastic and resilient braid is produced.

Optically, the ECOCORD / ECOHEMP cables clearly stand out from conventional instrument cables as well. Obviously, the matching plugs must also meet the same standards. 

We have taken a new creative approach and have, in cooperation with NEUTRIK®, designed special plugs in Shabby Chic design for this series:

The straight and right-angled NEUTRIK® 6.35 mm premium jack plugs with "patina flair".

The jack plugs, which were especially designed for ECOCORD / ECOHEMP cables, have a really special look and leave a lasting impression. This is ensured by the rather unique retro style, which is reminiscent of the elegant patina on old-school metal parts.

This special look combined with high-quality technology is the formula for success: the "ECOHEMP plugs" present a successful redesign of the proven NEUTRIK® plugs NP2X and NP2RX.

The ECOHEMP assembly cables are available equipped with the customary 6.35 mm jack variants "straight/straight" (ECOHEMP PP) and "straight/right angled" (ECOHEMP PR). 
In addition, we also offer versions with straight NEUTRIK® silentPLUG® (ECOHEMP PP-SILENT) or right-angled NEUTRIK® silentPLUG® (ECOHEMP PR-SILENT) to avoid annoying amp crackling noise when plugging in and unplugging an instrument.

The current ECOCORD products are instrument cables with two straight 6.3 mm jack plugs (ECOCORD PP), with one straight and one right-angled 6.3 mm jack plug (ECOCORD PR) as well as with the corresponding silentPLUG® variants (ECOCORD PP-SILENT and ECOCORD PR-SILENT). As with the ECOHEMP, all ECOCORD "guitar cable" plugs come from NEUTRIK® - and here, too, the plugs (except for silentPLUG®) come in a special Shabby Chic design with a vintage patina feel.

ECOCORD also offers solutions for short distances: the patch cables (also PVC-free) are available in ECOCORD RR versions with two 90°-angle NEUTRIK® plugs in Shabby Chic style as well as ECOCORD RR-PANCAKE (the particularly space-saving solution for more sustainable pedalboard applications etc.). The right-angled pancake plugs of the NEUTRIK® brand REAN® do not extend more than 1 cm from a 6.3mm jack socket.

For more information on silentPLUG® technology, click here.