Planned Aging: How It Works in Modern Electronics

Have you ever wondered why your electronics stop working right after the warranty period? It's no coincidence – it's planned obsolescence in practice. This conscious design strategy aims to make products obsolete in order to maintain consumption. In fact, we can trace the term "planned obsolescence" back to 1932, when American Bernard London introduced the concept.

What exactly is planned obsolescence? It is about the intentional shortening of a product's useful life. A historical example is the Phoebus Cartel, which systematically manufactured light bulbs with a shortened lifespan – even though the bulbs could last up to 2,500 hours, the cartel limited this to only 1,000 hours. In modern times, we see similar patterns, such as when Apple was forced to pay millions in damages for deliberately shortening the lifespan of its mobile phones. This phenomenon is also not limited to the electronics industry – it occurs in all types of industries, according to Mattias Lindahl, professor of industrial environmental engineering at Linköping University.

In this article, we'll examine how planned obsolescence works in modern electronics, its historical background, and how it affects both us as consumers and the environment. We'll also look at some of the most egregious examples of this practice over the years.

What is planned aging and why is it used?

Planned obsolescence is a deliberate design strategy where products are manufactured to become obsolete or unusable after a certain period of time. This phenomenon is not an isolated one, but is one of the cornerstones of the growth economy and the engine of the modern market economy.

The concept dates back to 1932 when Bernard London proposed that all products should be given a "best before" date and that consumers would be legally required to discard the product after this date, even if it was still functional. The proposal was intended to counteract the economic depression.

Planned aging occurs in several different forms:

• Products are designed to fail after a specific time through deliberate weakness in components

• Constant launches of new models with marginal improvements

• Products are manufactured in a way that makes them difficult or impossible to repair

• Software is updated so that older hardware becomes unusable

According to Professor Mattias Lindahl at Linköping University, the average lifespan of many products, such as vacuum cleaners, is shorter today despite technological advances. He believes that it would be possible to manufacture vacuum cleaners that last much longer at a similar cost, but this would lead to saturated markets.

Planned obsolescence is in direct opposition to the circular economy. However, today the EU is working to introduce regulations to extend the lifespan of products and make them easier to repair. In addition, consumers have an important role to play by looking beyond the purchase price and instead focusing on the total cost over the product's lifetime.

Historical and modern examples of planned aging

The Phoebus Cartel of 1924 stands as the first documented example of planned obsolescence in history. This cartel, formed by the world’s largest lighting companies, systematically worked to shorten the life of light bulbs from 2,500 hours down to just 1,000 hours. Meanwhile, in Livermore, California, there is a light bulb that has been burning since 1901 – over 120 years – and is still working.

During the GDR era, the East Germans tried to produce light bulbs with significantly longer lifespans but were surprised when the West showed no interest. In fact, planned obsolescence was not limited to light bulbs. As early as 1924, General Motors introduced the concept of annual model changes to encourage consumers to buy new cars regularly.

Among modern examples, Apple stands out. The company was forced to pay at least $310 million (potentially up to $500 million) in damages over “Batterygate.” Apple admitted in 2017 that it intentionally slowed down older phones but claimed it was to protect batteries, not to boost sales.

Printer manufacturers are also implementing planned obsolescence. Epson was accused in France of forcing customers to replace ink cartridges even though 20-40% of the ink remained. In addition, according to Professor Mattias Lindahl, the average lifespan of vacuum cleaners has dropped significantly despite minimal technological development.

In 2015, France became the first country in the world to introduce legislation against planned aging, with fines of up to 200,000 euros for companies that intentionally shorten the lifespan of their products.

How does planned aging affect consumers and the environment?

The economic and environmental consequences of planned obsolescence are extensive. For consumers, it means a direct financial burden by forcing them to replace products more often than necessary, which creates frustration and distrust in companies. At the same time, research shows that 80-90 percent of a product's climate impact lies in the production stage. This becomes particularly problematic because the development of electronics has changed the way we communicate, work and entertain ourselves, but with a significant environmental impact.

The production of a computer requires 22 kg of chemicals, 1,500 liters of water and generates 1,200 kg of waste. In addition, e-waste contains harmful substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium that can leak into the environment. In fact, electronic waste makes up 70 percent of all toxic waste due to its heavy metal content.

The EU is therefore actively working on eco-design rules to make products more durable, energy-efficient and repairable. France has shown the way by introducing legislation against planned obsolescence with fines of up to €200,000. According to calculations, extending the lifespan of mobile phones, laptops, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners in Europe by five years could save ten million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This makes it clear that both consumer awareness and legislation are needed to counteract this growing climate problem.

Conclusion

Planned aging thus exists as a conscious strategy in our modern world. In fact, this practice has deep historical roots, from the Phoebus Cartel's manipulation of light bulbs to Apple's controversial "Batterygate." The effects extend far beyond consumers' wallets. The environmental consequences are particularly serious, as electronics production requires enormous resources and generates toxic waste.

Undoubtedly, we are facing a dilemma where economic growth is pitted against sustainability. Companies design products with limited lifespans to sustain continuous consumption, while consumers are forced to constantly buy new ones. France has taken the first step by legislating against this practice, and the EU is following suit with its eco-design rules.

As consumers, we can make informed choices by prioritizing products that are repairable and have a longer lifespan. In addition, a five-year extension of the lifespan of electronic products could save millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The challenge of the future will be to balance technological innovation with genuinely sustainable products.

Therefore, we must question whether constant upgrades are really necessary. Circular economy offers an alternative approach where products are designed for long-term use, repairability and recycling. Awareness of planned obsolescence is the first step towards change – both for us as consumers and for the industry as a whole. Together we can create a market where sustainability is valued more than short-term consumption.