Consumerism
Planned obsolescence is a controversial and manipulative business strategy where a product is intentionally designed, manufactured, or programmed with a limited useful life. The goal is to ensure that the product becomes obsolete (outdated, broken, or unfashionable) after a specific period, forcing the consumer to purchase a replacement sooner than necessary. This drives repeated sales and ensures continuous long-term profit for the manufacturer.
The practice originated in the 1920s with the "Phoebus Cartel," where lightbulb manufacturers colluded to reduce the lifespan of bulbs from 2,500 hours to 1,000 hours. Today, it takes many forms. It can be physical (cheap plastic gears in an appliance that break), functional (batteries glued into phones so they cannot be replaced), or systemic (software updates that slow down older devices or make them incompatible with new apps).
While this "build-to-break" model fuels economic growth and consumption, it creates an environmental disaster. It generates millions of tons of toxic electronic waste ("e-waste") annually and accelerates the depletion of the Earth's precious natural resources. We treat complex machines as disposable trash.
In response, the "Right to Repair" movement has exploded globally. Activists and legislators are fighting for laws that require companies to provide spare parts, repair manuals, and diagnostic tools to independent repair shops and the public. The goal is to shift from a linear "take-make-waste" economy to a circular economy, where products are designed to be durable, repairable, and upgradeable, empowering consumers and saving the planet.
What is it?
Consumerism