How does planned obsolescence add to the problem of electronic waste?

Planned obsolescence is the practice of designing products, such as electronics, with a limited useful life so that consumers are compelled to replace them sooner. This strategy significantly exacerbates the problem of electronic waste by accelerating the rate at which devices—including computers, cell phones, and consumer appliances—become redundant or reach the end of their utility.123

As mass production facilitates the creation of low-cost, short-lived items, the resulting volume of discarded equipment has made e-waste one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. This cycle of rapid replacement creates severe environmental and health challenges, as e-waste often contains toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium. When these products are improperly disposed of or processed by informal sectors, these toxins can leach into soil and groundwater or be released into the air through hazardous recycling methods.23

To address these issues, there is an ethical imperative to move toward sustainable practices, such as extended producer responsibility, which holds manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, rather than prioritizing profit through planned obsolescence at the expense of global sustainability.23