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Planned Obsolescence Sucks. Here's Why It Still Exists.

Provided by: Our Changing Climate |Published on: April 27, 2021

Videos Grades 6-8, 9-12

Synopsis

This video describes the method of marketing and production design that many companies use to drive sales by purposely making items that are meant to break or go "out of style" quickly, and are impossible for the consumer to repair or update.
Examples of planned obsolescence in the video are light bulbs, smartphones, other electronic devices, clothing, and vehicles.

Subjects: Economics

Authors: Our Changing Climate

Region: Global

Languages: English

Positives

This video connects planned obsolescence with increasing consumerism and environmental degradation.
Students will be inspired to support movements to beat this system.

Prerequisites

Differentiation & Implementation

Economics and social studies classes can discuss the social and economic impacts of planned obsolescence, particularly on low-income communities.
Science classes could connect this video to lessons about the increasing amount of wild spaces that are being mined, logged, fragmented, or polluted that result in a loss of ecosystem services, wildlife habitat, and biodiversity.
Other resources on this topic include this interactive data resource about the drivers of climate change, this table of solutions to climate change, and this video about the impacts of environmental degradation on biodiversity.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format