Introduction to planned obsolescence

An overview of planned obsolescence and its impact on consumer goods.

Merged Image source: By George Hotelling from Canton, MI, United States - E-waste recycling in Ann Arbor, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org and Santeri Viinamäki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia

Understanding obsolescence

The concept of obsolescence and its different forms—technical, style, and functional.

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The origins in early automobiles

How General Motors pioneered planned obsolescence in the 1920s to compete with Ford.

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The Phoebus cartel and the light bulb conspiracy

The infamous 1920s cartel that artificially reduced the lifespan of light bulbs.

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The rise of disposable consumer goods

The post-World War II era and the shift to disposable products for sustained profits.

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Electronics and the modern obsolescence strategy

How smartphone manufacturers design devices with limited repairability and battery life.

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The impact on the environment

How planned obsolescence contributes to e-waste and resource depletion.

Image source: pixabay

Consumer psychology and marketing tricks

How advertising fuels the need for constant upgrades and replacements.

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Regulations and the right to repair movement

The growing global push for repairable products and longer-lasting designs.

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Lessons from the automotive industry

How competition from Japanese automakers forced American car manufacturers to improve durability.

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Alternatives to planned obsolescence

Innovations in sustainable design, modular products, and circular economy initiatives.

Image source: Freepik

The future of consumer goods

How consumer demand and policy changes could reshape manufacturing ethics.

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Merged Image source: By George Hotelling from Canton, MI, United States - E-waste recycling in Ann Arbor, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org and Santeri Viinamäki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia