Planned Obsolescence

Definition

• Planned Obsolescence is a business strategy where products are designed to have a limited lifespan.
• The goal is to encourage consumers to purchase new versions as products become outdated or unusable after a specific period.
• Tactics involved:
  • Making products irreparable
  • Using materials that wear out quickly
  • Releasing new models with minor changes before the previous ones are fully functional

Origins

• Not created by one individual but emerged within the industrial world.
• Bernard London is sometimes credited with popularizing the idea through his 1932 pamphlet "Ending the Depression Through Planned Obsolescence."
• The term and practice were developed by industrial designers and marketers in the 1920s and 1930s.

Advantages for Companies

• Companies utilize planned obsolescence to:
  • Design products with limited lifespans or quickly outdated features.
  • Encourage consumers to purchase replacements more frequently.
• Benefits include:
  • Driving repeat sales
  • Increasing revenue
  • Maintaining steady demand for newer models or versions
  • Creating a cycle of continuous consumer spending while ensuring brand relevance and market competitiveness.

Environmental Impact

• Negative Effects:
  • Increases waste, especially electronic and plastic waste.
  • Results in overflowing landfills and pollution.
  • Higher demand for raw materials contributes to resource depletion and environmental degradation.
• Manufacturing and disposal processes often release harmful emissions, worsening climate change.

Participants in Planned Obsolescence

• Mainly practiced by large-scale companies, including:
  • Tech companies (e.g., Apple)
  • Companies producing lightbulbs
• These companies engage in planned obsolescence to maximize profits.