An Introduction to Planned Obsolescence

🌱 What is planned obsolescence?

“Through planned obsolescence, the life span of products is purposely limited to foster consumerism. Obsolescence is driven by “[i]nterfirm competition, the need to maintain and increase one's market share and profits, [and] the necessity to offload or ‘externalise’ costs”. Planned obsolescence occurs due to technical or stylistic reasons, or as the consequence of marginal utility. Planned obsolescence takes many “subtle and sophisticated” forms and it encompasses “industrial design, cheaply made (and priced) goods, continuous product upgrading, advertising, and compromises in product quality”.”

🌱 Why is it employed?

“Producing durable goods can lead to a quick saturation of the market. “The more reliable and long-lasting the product, the longer the repeat purchase cycle and the slower the rate of sales growth.” As a consequence of the time inconsistency or durables problem, planned obsolescence is employed. An alternative to the employment of planned obsolescence is the renting out of durable goods to assure a “consistent flow of revenue for several years”.”

🌱 What is the environmental impact?

“The rapid pace at which products are upgraded – and at which they become obsolete – has a negative impact on the environment. The current strategy employed for developing products motivates consumers to replace a functional and durable product to upgrade to newer versions. While technological progress and innovation may be desirable, the gains born from a new product may not outweigh the costs or burdens that it brings to consumers or society. A product that is replaced more frequently and is less recyclable brings about larger economic and environmental costs.”

🌱 How does it drive the production of e-waste?

“From the 1960s onwards, economic growth and development has been based on the concept of planned obsolescence. “The growth in the disposal of electrical and electronic goods is driven by complex interacting technological and sociological factors that result in obsolescence and diminishing product lifespans.” The rapid obsolescence of electronic devices and technology leads to the production of large amounts of e-waste.”

💡 This column is based on Christine Nikander’s research on e-waste and planned obsolescence at Leiden University College The Hague in 2015-2016. More specifically, this column entails extracts from her unpublished thesis titled “E-Waste Trafficking as an Environmental Crime: Countering the Transboundary Movement of E-waste by Legally Limiting Planned Obsolescence”. If you would like to have a copy of the paper or its bibliography, please reach out via e-mail.

Sources of the direct quotes found within the extracts:

- Guiltinan, Joseph. 2009. "Creative Destruction and Destructive Creations: Environmental Ethics and Planned Obsolescence." Journal of Business Ethics 89: 19-28, 21-22.

- Park, Miles. 2012. "E-waste and Obsolescence: Designing out toxicity." Design Research Society 2012: Bangkok. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University, 10.