041 – Planned obsolescence

What this episode covers

Paul and Jocelyn have both watched the same movie, Pyramids of Waste, a.k.a The Lightbulb Conspiracy . The movie does a good job documenting how companies plan obsolescence . Jocelyn gives a shout out to Eric Kimmitt for finding the movie. Paul discusses his forum post and how the movie really got lots of attention at Reddit. Jocelyn explains how printers are made stop working after a certain number of print jobs. This equipment has become disposable. These products are international and across many countries, not just here in America. Paul likes how the movie tells this story over many industries. Paul gives a spoiler alert about the movie. Should a person spend $200 to fix his printer or spend $100 to buy a new one. In the movie the printer owner found software to reset the print count. Paul talks about the lightbulb conspiracy and how a group of manufacturers got together and agreed to set the life expectancy for bulbs . Paul talks about the bulb that has been burning for over 100 years. There was an inventor who made a filament that would last for a very long time but he took that secret to the grave with him. Livermore California has a lightbulb that has been around for 110 years now; got to Centennialbulb.com. Paul likes Reduce Reuse Recycle . He likes that order. Jocelyn mentions that the movie talks about an LED bulb that claims to last 25 years. Paul still likes incandescent bulbs over LEDs. The movie highlights planned obsolescence over conservation. Jocelyn explains how they talk about all the hidden costs in the fluorescent bulb industry. Paul talks about the frugality forum and what a hit it is. Jocelyn talks about pantyhose and how it used to be made too strong. Paul likes the idea that permaculture does not buy into the idea of planned obsolescence. Paul uses his experience of his recent laptop purchase as an example of the best way to go. Paul likes how Patagonia makes things that last a really long time. Cast iron is another example of how something can be used a really long time. In the movie, a design instructor buys a bunch of cheap products and asks his students how long these products will last. Jocelyn explains how shiny and new may not be better than tried and true . Paul likes the idea that when companies get together to plan obsolescence that this should be breaking a law. We as consumers should be better informed and not purchase products from companies that plan obsolescence. Jocelyn likes the idea of having less product but of a higher quality. Paul feels that throwing too much away is not good for the environment. Paul explains his Wheaton Eco Level and how minimizing what we purchase is good for us, but Paul doesn’t want to tell anyone how to live their life. Jocelyn recalls how in the movie it says we have 26 times the amount of stuff but that we are less happy and work more. Shopping is not something Paul or Jocelyn enjoy very much. The society we live in tends to want to buy more disposable products. If we buy higher quality products we will require less.

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