Planned Obsolescence: The Truth About Why Your Products Don’t Last

The term Planned Obsolescence was coined by Bernard London, an American real estate broker, in his 1932 book “Ending the Depression Through Planned Obsolescence.” London argued that planned obsolescence could be used to stimulate the economy by creating a need for new products even when old ones were still functional.

What does it mean?

Planned obsolescence is the practice of designing products to become obsolete or unusable within a certain timeframe, so that consumers will need to purchase new ones. This can be done through a variety of means, such as using inferior materials, making products difficult to repair, or creating new models that are constantly being upgraded.

Example

• Lightbulbs
  The original incandescent light bulb, invented by Thomas Edison in 1879, had a lifespan of over 1 200 hours. However, In the 1920s, a group of light bulb manufacturers formed the Phoebus Cartel, which set a standard lifespan for light bulbs at 1 000 hours (down from 2 500 hours). The manufacturers began to use thinner filaments in their bulbs, to reduced the lifespan. The cartel also fined manufacturers for producing light bulbs that lasted longer than 1 000 hours. This practice of planned obsolescence allowed the light bulb manufacturers to increase their profits by forcing consumers to buy new light bulbs more often.
  
  Today typically (depending on use), incandescent bulbs will last for about 2 000 hours. This is usually less than a year(!), if turned on 6-hours a day. The main reason is that the filament in regular bulbs is made of tungsten rather than carbon, as in the Centennial Lightbulb in Livermore, Calif., which has stayed lit for 116 years (video from 2018).
  
  To learn more, we highly recommend watching the documentary The Light Bulb Conspiracy (from 2010).

• Fashion
  The fashion industry is a major player in planned obsolescence. Fashion trends change rapidly, and consumers are often encouraged to buy new clothes even if their old ones are still in good condition. This is done through marketing campaigns that focus on creating a sense of urgency and by making clothes that are difficult to care for and repair.
  
  One of the typical items are nylon stockings, which could be designed to last long, but are purposefully made short-lasting, to keep a high demand, retaining high production.
  
  
• Electronics
  The electronics industry is another major player in planned obsolescence. Electronics companies often release new models of products every year, even if the old models are still functional. This is done in order to create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) and to encourage consumers to upgrade their devices more often. In other scenarios there is a drastic drop in battery lifetime, or processing speed, just after the warranty period has elapsed. Read about when Apple and Samsung was fined in Italia for slowing down phones.
  
  Printer ink pads are designed to soak up excess ink so it does not get smeared on your pages or leak from the printer. Some printer manufacturers have determined how long these parts usually last, and when the timer is up, the printer just stops working.  The proposed solution is also a problem shipping the printer back for service, or having a certified repair technician replace the parts is very costly factoring in the parts, labor, and shipping. This is typically done in an effort to create the need to replace your printer at an earlier stage. Example from the printer manufacturer Epson.
  
  
• Appliances
  Appliance manufacturers often use planned obsolescence to encourage consumers to buy new appliances even when their old ones are still working. This is done by making appliances more difficult to repair, by using cheaper materials, and by designing appliances with a limited lifespan.
  
  For example, many appliance manufacturers now use plastic parts instead of metal parts in their products. Some washing machines now have plastic gears instead of metal gears. Plastic gears are cheaper than metal gears, but they are also less durable. This means that washing machines with plastic gears are more likely to break down.
  
  Several appliance manufacturers now also design their products with a limited lifespan. This means that the appliances are designed to break down after a certain number of years. This is done to encourage consumers to buy new appliances more often.
  
  
• Cars
  Car manufacturers often use planned obsolescence to encourage consumers to buy new cars even when their old ones are still running. This is done by making cars more difficult to repair, by using cheaper materials, and by designing cars with a limited lifespan.
  
  An example of this is the use of non-standard screws and bolts in car parts parts that are only available from the manufacturer. This makes it more difficult for consumers to repair their own cars, as they may not be able to find the right tools or parts. Some issue software updates that can disable features. Others are designing cars with features that are difficult or impossible to repair, such as headlights that are integrated into the bodywork. Many car manufacturers now also use cheaper materials in their cars, such as plastic instead of metal. This makes cars less durable and more likely to break down. Finally, many car manufacturers now design their cars with a limited lifespan. This means that the cars are designed to break down after a certain number of years, even if they are well-maintained. This is done to encourage consumers to buy new cars more often.
  
  Examples of fines that have been levied against car companies for planned obsolescence:
  
  • In 2015, Volkswagen was fined $14.7 billion by the U.S. government for cheating on emissions tests. The company had installed software in its diesel cars that allowed them to emit more pollution when they were not being tested. This software was designed to wear down the cars’ emissions control systems over time, forcing owners to replace them sooner.
    
  • In 2017, General Motors (GM) was fined $900 million by the U.S. government for delaying a recall of defective ignition switches. The switches were linked to at least 124 deaths. GM had known about the problem for years, but it had not recalled the cars until it was forced to do so by the government.
    
  • In 2018, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles was fined $400 million by the U.S. government for failing to recall defective airbag inflators. The inflators were linked to at least 18 deaths. FCA had known about the problem for years, but it had not recalled the cars until it was forced to do so by the government.

Impact

Planned obsolescence has a number of negative impacts, including:

• Increased consumption of resources
• Increased pollution
• Reduced product quality
• Increased financial burden on consumers

Solutions

There are a number of things that can be done to address the problem of planned obsolescence, including:

• Educating consumers about the issue
• Supporting businesses that produce sustainable products
• Repairing products instead of replacing them
• Buying used products
  
• Industry Regulations
  France was the first country to regulate planned obsolescence. In 2015, they passed a law requiring manufacturers to label goods with their expected lifespan and the availability of spare parts. The law also mandates a two-year warranty on all goods, which puts pressure on producers to increase the quality and durability of their products.

By taking these steps, we can help to reduce the amount of waste and pollution produced by planned obsolescence.

To learn more, I recommend watching the documentary on Netflix “Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy” (from 2024).