"The environmental costs of constantly replacing electronics and appliances are staggering. Every year, an estimated 50 million tons of electronic waste are generated worldwide, much of which is not recycled responsibly, leading to soil, air, and water pollution."
~ United Nations University
In a world where we’re told to “upgrade” constantly, we’ve become a throwaway society, and nowhere is that more evident than in our homes. My family bought our home at the end of 2020, feeling excited to outfit it with new, top-rated KitchenAid appliances. Of course, they all had to match because presentation matters. But what we didn’t expect was by the end of 2022, we’d be 11 service visits deep and on our second refrigerator. And now, less than two years later, we’re facing the same issue with this replacement fridge. This weekend’s discovery points to one thing: we’re likely going to have to get a THIRD refrigerator in less than FOUR years.
It’s maddening! The refrigerator in our garage, on the other hand, is from 2002 and still works like a dream. It didn’t come with any fancy nameplate or extra price tag, but what it did come with was reliability. And yet here we are, paying more than ever for less quality, and that’s not a one-off experience – it is becoming the norm.
We live in a time where products once built to last are now designed with failure in mind, ushering in this era of routine replacements. It’s profitable for manufacturers, but it’s devastating for consumers - especially now, in an economy where every dollar counts. How are we supposed to get ahead when products we invest in break down faster than we can pay them off?
The greed behind it is blatant. Home appliances, electronics, even cars - many are now designed with planned obsolescence. You see it everywhere. Look no further than your phone. Isn’t it ironic how your battery life suddenly starts to dwindle as soon as your warranty is up and you become eligible for an upgrade? The timing isn’t coincidental. It’s all by design - less quality, more frequent replacements, and manufacturers aren’t even bothering to innovate beyond making products last just long enough.
The environmental cost is staggering, too. A 250-pound refrigerator gets sent to the landfill every two years, where it will sit for who knows how long. Yes, we talk about recycling bottles and cans, but are we having serious conversations about the bigger waste happening right in our homes? The fridges, washers, dryers, and ovens that take thousands of dollars from families only to be tossed aside far too soon? It’s more than an inconvenience - it’s a stress on our budgets, our time, and frankly, our patience.
Statistics prove the absurdity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that in 2018 alone, Americans generated nearly 7.7 million tons of major appliances, with only a small percentage being recycled. That is before factoring in the rising costs. Appliance prices have shot up 18% over the last two years while lifespan and reliability continue to plummet. We’re caught in a vicious cycle where we pay more for less.
So what’s the solution? For starters, home warranties have become more essential than ever. We work with home warranty companies often and can recommend ones we trust, because it helps offset the burden when an appliance breaks down. But let’s be honest: a home warranty is a Band-Aid on a much bigger wound. We need to fix the problem at its core - by holding manufacturers accountable and demanding products that actually last.
And the question remains - how do we start making that happen? We need to put pressure on companies and vote with our wallets. Choose brands that value longevity and aren’t profiting off this endless cycle of obsolescence. Support legislation that discourages planned obsolescence and encourages sustainability. We also need to make conscious decisions in our own homes to buy smarter, not just newer.
Our system is broken. The focus on profits over people and the environment is eroding trust, but the choice to change it starts with us. We’ve become so focused on what’s next that we’ve stopped asking what’s lasting. We can turn this around, but it’s going to take more than recycling – it is going to take a shift in the way we live, buy, and build. Let’s start focusing on what really matters: quality over quantity, and longevity over quick fixes. Because at this rate, it’s not only limited-lifespan appliances for which we are paying in excess - we are sacrificing our peace of mind in the process.
