Each year, the world produces more than 50 million tons of electronic waste, equivalent to 16 pounds for every person on the planet. An unsavory fact, brought to life by Dell’s recent e-waste activation to promote technology recycling at SXSW 2024.
In response, some companies are trading planned obsolescence for products that are made to last. In part, this is being nudged by new legislation: in late April 2024, the European Parliament adopted a directive on the “right to repair,” which will ban four common practices linked to early obsolescence, while New York was the first US state to pass the Digital Fair Repair Act, giving citizens the right to fix phones, tablets, and computers. Similar laws will come into effect this summer in Minnesota and California.
In response, Google is making its Chromebook laptop last longer by committing to service each new model with automatic updates for at least a decade. The technology giant is also offering seven years of updates on its Pixel 8 smartphone series, a commitment now matched by rival Samsung for its Galaxy S24 series.
US manufacturer Framework builds its laptop devices using the principles of modular design. Models can be easily taken apart, allowing owners to repair, replace, or upgrade any components as required. Not only does this make them easier to fix, it also future proofs the devices for any updates and innovations in years to come.
