The Light Bulb Conspiracy

The Light Bulb Conspiracy, also known as Pyramids of Waste, is a 2010 documentary film written and directed by Cosima Dannoritzer. An international co-production of France and Spain, the documentary thematizes the planned obsolescence of industrial products for commercial reasons. Synopsis The film documents planned obsolescence in industrial production, i.e. the deliberate limitation by manufacturers of the lifespan of their products in order to thereby secure the sale of replacement and follow-up products. In addition to describing concrete examples, the film also deals with the economic and ecological consequences of consumer society. Among others, the French economist and philosopher Serge Latouche has his say as a representative of 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. In the context of the Great Depression, Bernard London proposed in his work Ending the Depression Through Planned Obsolescence that all products be given an expiration date, after which they would have to be turned in to a government agency and destroyed. In this way, consumption was to be stimulated and jobs created. The Narva brand light bulb, which is also very durable, is treated as further evidence of the existence of planned obsolescence in modern light bulbs. Particularly resistant nylon pantyhoses are said to have been made more short-lived for the purpose of faster wear by using inferior material. The Epson Stylus C42UX inkjet printer is said to issue a defect message after a certain number of printed pages, whereupon further use of the printer is prevented. This lock, which is said to be caused by a chip specially present for this purpose, could be switched off with the help of special software. The battery of the iPod Classic is used as an example of planned obsolescence in modern consumer electronics. International versions The film screened internationally at numerous film festivals as well as on television and was broadcast on German television several times on Arte and Phoenix starting in 2011.