Born to Die: Planned Obsolescence and the Lack of Legal Recourse
By: Elena Overstreet
In 2024, technology was the largest category of consumer spending during the holiday season, and it was projected that the 2025 holiday season would be the same.[1] Spending in this area seems to increase each year, with people finding the latest phones, kindles, and Oura Rings under their Christmas trees.[2] The thrill of new devices does not come without a cost, however. By 2030, the annual volume of electronics placed on the market is estimated to have risen to 120 billion kilograms – approximately 264 billion pounds. While some progress has been made in collecting and recycling the materials used, this progress barely makes a dent in the magnitude of electronic waste being generated.[4] Yet, the trouble does not stop there.