As part of our ongoing decluttering efforts, my husband recently dropped off a huge box of e-waste at a local recycling centre. That box had been accumulating in our basement for a couple of years. It was a visible reminder of the impact of planned obsolescence and the size of our society’s e-waste problem.
We’re far from early adopters when it comes to tech, so how does one household generate so much e-waste? A few days after getting that box out of our basement, I got a glaring reminder of the source of the e-waste problem when I bumped up against planned obsolescence.
This isn’t progress
As many of you know, I work out at home using YouTube videos. For years, I have used an HDMI cable and adapter to connect my iPad to a small TV in the basement to watch my videos. A couple of weeks ago, it just stopped working. Thinking it must be a faulty cable, I tried it on our other TVs. When that didn’t work, I bought a new cable. But it still didn’t work.
I did some research and learned that Apple’s latest iOS18 release removed support for this. Why would they do this? I can’t imagine connecting my device to a TV with a cable presents any kind of security risk. It’s more likely they want me to think my 5-year-old iPad is the problem so I’ll buy a new one. Oh, and why not get a new Smart TV while I’m at it?
That’s exactly what these large corporations want us to do. They’re counting on us not doing our homework.
History of planned obsolescence
Sadly, planned obsolescence is a symptom of our capitalistic society. The goal is to get you to buy more things—most of which you don’t need. The marketing teams in these giant corporations spend countless hours and billions of dollars convincing you that you need the latest and greatest of everything.
But you don’t!
Although we’ve been hearing more about planned obsolescence in recent years, it isn’t a new story. In fact, it all started 100 years ago when lightbulb manufacturers realized their product was lasting too long. The manufacturers formed the Phoebus Cartel and intentionally reduced the lifespan of lightbulbs by over 50%—from 2500 hours to 1000 hours. It was all done to make people buy more lightbulbs. And guess what! Prices went up while the quality went down. Sound familiar? (Source: The Sustainable Agency)
Planned obsolescence is built into everything manufactured today: appliances, furniture, household building materials, and even clothing. But the tech devices that we increasingly depend on are by far the biggest culprits.
Three types of obsolescence
In his book Living the 1.5 Degree Lifestyle, Lloyd Alter discusses three types of obsolescence introduced by Vance Packard, author of The Waste Makers:
- Obsolescence of function occurs when an existing product becomes out of date after a new product comes along that performs the function better. Upgrades to technology—especially with early smartphones—are excellent examples.
- Obsolescence of quality. Often planned, it’s when a product breaks down or wears out at a given time. This type of obsolescence is why our appliances don’t last as long as they used to. Quality has been downgraded while complexity has been upgraded.
- Obsolescence of desirability is one where we, as consumers, have some control. Also called psychological obsolescence, it’s when we think a product that is still solid in terms of quality or performance is ‘worn out’ because a new style or change makes it seem less desirable.
Our growing e-waste problem
A study from the University of Waterloo found e-waste in Canada tripled in the 20 years between 2000 and 2020 with each one of us now generating 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of e-waste every year. And it’s expected to continue growing.
All this e-waste is a huge environmental and health concern.
The World Health Organization reports less than a quarter of e-waste is properly recycled. In addition to the impact on the planet, we should all be concerned about improper disposal of e-waste on our health.
E-waste releases up to 1000 chemical substances into the environment, including lead and other chemicals known to cause health issues. These chemicals contaminate the air we breathe, the soil that grows our food, and the water we drink.
And if the environmental and health impacts of all this e-waste aren’t enough to make you think twice about your consumption, consider the impact on your wallet. The Sustainable Agency estimates planned obsolescence will costs each of us €50,000 (close to $80,000 CDN) over our lifetimes.
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Fighting back
It’s time to get serious and fight back against planned obsolescence. Here are some ways you can do that.
First, keep your devices and other possessions for longer. You don’t need a new phone every two years, despite what your mobile provider tells you. Many people are using phones that are five years old or more. And my five year old iPad still works just fine.
In Alter’s book, he suggests we learn to differentiate design from style. Instead of chasing the latest styles and trends, we should focus on the utility of an existing item. As an example, with our current bathroom renovation, we decided to keep our existing marble countertop and tub surround, and refinish our vanity instead of buying new. They may not be the hottest new trend, but they are still in good shape and serve the purpose we need them for.
When things break down, consider repairing before replacing. Electronics can be difficult to repair, but most appliances can be fixed. We’ve extended the life of our dryer and our freezer by repairing them.
When your devices reach the end of life, dispose of e-waste properly. Don’t just toss them in the trash. Find an e-waste recycling centre near you. We took ours to Dundee Electronic Recycling—and they even gave us a few dollars!
Finally, look for creative solutions. I was determined to find a solution to my workout problem that didn’t involve buying a new TV or iPad. I spent $40 on a Roku Express that connects my TV to our Wi-Fi—essentially turning our “dumb” TV into a smart TV.
Ultimately, by being more mindful about our shopping and consumption, we can save ourselves a lot of money AND send a message to greedy corporations.
Do you have other ideas on how we can fight planned obsolescence? Drop me a comment below to let me know.
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Thank you for your important post. It is sad we like in a disposable society. Like you, my iPad is over five years old. Apple updates will not download because my iOS is “out of date”. I only use it now for reading my Library books. It works fine but Apple wants us to discard and buy new! When I was online learning, Apple products would not be accepted for security reasons. So much for caring about the environment! I like my Android smart phone but do not need an upgrade after two years My old lip-phone lasted almost ten years!
Cheers!
Yes, it is all very frustrating. Our phones will be 2 years old later this year. I’m sure we’ll start getting messages to upgrade the day after they are 2 years old. One is an Android, the other an iPhone. I’m curious to see which one lasts longer.
Remember subliminal messages? Now it’s the “algorithm”. My phone will be two years old next month. Our provider has emailed me suggested new products for me. I prefer, if it ain’t broken, leave it alone!
This is one of the reasons that turned me into a minimalist. Suddenly one day I realised that stuff was just piling up and I was drowning in it. So I started donating unused clothes, read books, and outdated but still wearable shoes. For e-waste, I found a company that promised to plant a tree on my name when I donate an e-waste from any company at their centres. Next I am planning to sell some of my second hand designer dresses, books, and furniture online and get updated ones (most probably a multifunctional furniture like from Ikea). The problem with gadgets is definitely compromising in quality. My mom cannot use a bank’s app bcoz her smartphone has an outdated software. So now to use online banking she will have to get a new smartphone. 🙄
I feel the same way, Ranjana. Once I started decluttering, I found myself buying very little. It is frustrating when apps are no longer supported on older devices. We’re starting to see “right to repair” legislation in some countries as awareness of the games these companies play increases.
I don’t think society has woken up to the enormous problem e-waste presents. Having been raised by frugal parents, it’s in my DNA to hang onto something for a long time. Sadly, it’s all about making money. Not that I watch a lot of television, but the trend toward all of these subscription services is another example of corporate greed.
I am the same way, Pete. If something still works and meets my needs, why would I buy a new one just because I can? Yes, corporate greed is out of control. These large corporations have a lot to answer for from an environmental perspective.
I changed my I-pad recently only because the touchpad didn’t work that well any longer. I bought it in 2017, so I think that it made a decent life. By the way, my son wanted it to download and watch films. Not a big deal for writing then.
That’s great that you got that many years out of your iPad Cristiana. I think I got mine in 2019. I’m hoping to get a couple more years out of it.
So important to think about the e-waste, Michelle. It’s like the plastic for this generation. So much of it especially as we move towards households with multiple devices, such as ours!
Honestly, Ab, I have completely lost count of the number of devices in our household! Phones, tablets, laptops, printers, TVs. Not to mention large and small appliances. Everything is electronic these days!