Planned Obsolescence: What does it mean?

"They just don't make things like they used to anymore."

It's true, they don't! 

Planned obsolescence is the business strategy of intentionally shortening a product’s life in order to increase production and consumption. First coined in the 1930’s during the Great Depression, it was pitched as a way to benefit the country in a time of economic crisis. Now, planned obsolescence has infiltrated all industries from personal hygiene to fashion and technology.

One of the first planned obsolescence strategies ever implemented was in the
1870s with disposable shirt collars, advertised as a way to reduce the amount of laundry. Over 150 years later, this strategy has taken over the fashion industry and normalized clothes that only last a few wears, but are cheap enough to just buy again brand new. This culture has only increased with social media: huge Shein hauls are now commonplace on platforms like TikTok and Instagram where influencers buy unreasonable quantities of clothing from cheap stores. But even if you intend to use clothing from these brands for a long time, they are designed with thinner, cheaper materials that are easily damaged after only a couple of wears. 

Psychological or style obsolescence is also prevalent, where the desire to buy the
“trendiest” or most in-style product leads to excess waste. In recent years, there has been a rise in “micro-trends,” which are niche items that quickly rise in popularity, then almost immediately are considered “out-of-style.” Micro-trends have created even more waste as items flood in and out of popularity at lightning speed.

Another industry where planned obsolescence shows up early is hygiene. Based on the assumption that single-use products are more sanitary, lots of everyday products are now limited to a single use. Starting in the 1930’s many companies marketing commercials primarily focused on women, as they were thought to consume the most personal goods. Flashing forward to 2026, single use items have become incorporated into daily routine, particularly for women, by using things like disposable makeup wipes, razors, and sanitary pads.

Functional obsolescence is the idea that a product becomes out of date when consumers want the newer version with improved performance due to the newest technology. This is debated topic in the technological industry right now because although no company will openly advertise they use this planned obsolescence staregy, but Apple has been sued in the U.S. & the U.K. for intentionally slowing down older versions of iPhones when a new one comes out in order to persuade customers to upgrade. Neither case has been taken to trial, but the U.S. court case ended with a $500 million settlement. Additionally, a study found Americans replace their mobile phone, on average, every 22 months. Within 2 years, many phones are still working fine, but people want to upgrade to have the newest features.

System obsolescence also has a major affect on the technological industry and is the idea that the process of getting a product repaired is more difficult and expensive than buying the product new. This is particularly true for household appliances – if your toaster or air fryer breaks, most people are not going to look for a repair, but rather buy a new one and replace it. For any older products, it is even more common to replace as the manufacturer stops producing parts for older products and only on newer ones, which drives the price of older product repair up. At this point, the culture of repairing anything has gone away and been replaced by the need to buy new again and again.

Even though planned obsolescence has frustratingly shown itself in nearly every industry, there are still ways to combat it. First, resist trend culture. Opt for functionality and individual expression over the consumption of hyper-produced goods. We know this is easier said than done, but we believe in your ability to resist!

Second, for the things you truly do need, shop with longevity and repairability in mind. Companies that offer generous warranties or are highly recommended for their lifespan. Look for antiques that have proven their ability to stand the test of time. 

Third, learn a new skill, or make friends with people who have those skills! This could look like mending old clothes, simple technology repairs like a cracked screen, or even visiting a specialist to fix your jewelry.  We had such a blast at our Repair Fair last month, swapping skills and repairs for free with our community. People have expressed a deep sense of hopefulness and belonging in association with the event: something as simple as a fixed ring, or a sunshiny patch on torn clothing, can serve as a reminder that nothing and no one should be viewed as merely "disposable," that we are all part of a living network of beings and things, all worthy of attention and care. In our opinion, it really is "that deep". 

Fourth, advocate for your right to repair! Planned obsolescence is not just a consumer problem. It stems from intentional decisions made in boardrooms and production meetings. Regulation can help hold corporations to a higher standard when it comes to the longevity and quality of their products.