Planned obsolescence, right to repair, and America's reliance on foreign raw materials...

How American environmental policies, laws, and company behavior are much worse for the global environment than fossil fuels.

What is planned obsolescence?

Planned obsolescence refers to the practice of deliberately designing products with a limited lifespan, so that they become obsolete or outdated after a certain period of time, and consumers are forced to replace them with newer models. The aim is to stimulate demand and generate more sales for manufacturers, who benefit financially from the increased turnover of products.

Some types of planned obsolescence, include functional, technological, and style obsolescence. Functional obsolescence occurs when a product is designed with a limited lifespan or a specific part that is prone to failure or wear and tear, which makes it difficult or expensive to repair. Technological obsolescence occurs when newer technologies or innovations make the existing product obsolete or less desirable. Style obsolescence occurs when products go out of fashion or lose their appeal to consumers.

For example, Apple has been accused of using planned obsolescence in its products in various ways. Some of the ways in which Apple has been accused of using planned obsolescence include:

1. Software updates: Apple has been accused of designing software updates in a way that slows down older devices, making them less useful and encouraging users to upgrade to newer models.

   

   Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batterygate

2. Battery life: Apple has been accused of designing its devices with batteries that degrade over time, leading to shorter battery life and encouraging users to replace the battery or upgrade to a newer model.

   

   Source: https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/06/07/lawsuit-claims-ios-14-battery-drain-bug-is-example-of-planned-obsolescence