The Light Bulb Conspiracy, also known as Pyramids of Waste, is a 2010 Franco-Spanish documentary film written and directed by Cosima Dannoritzer about the practice of planned obsolescence. In 2013, Dannoritzer and Jürgen Reuß co-published a book based on the film.
Contents
Synopsis
The film documents the deliberate limitation by manufacturers of the lifespan of their products in order to secure sales of replacement and follow-up products. In addition to describing concrete examples, the film also explores the economic and ecological consequences of consumer society. French economist and philosopher Serge Latouche speaks about the concept of degrowth.
Documented examples
The Centennial Light is considered to be the longest-lasting incandescent lamp in the world. It is used as evidence of collusion among incandescent lamp manufacturers in the Phoebus cartel, one of whose aims was to limit the average lifespan of lightbulbs to 1000 hours.
The market strategy of Alfred P. Sloan, president of General Motors from 1923 to 1937, is used to illustrate the entry of planned obsolescence into the automotive industry.