Pyramids of Waste AKA The Light Bulb Conspiracy from Andreas Wagner on Vimeo.

Pyramids of Waste, aka The Lightbulb Conspiracy, shows a light bulb in Livermore, CA, that has been burning since 1901 with only a few comparatively short interruptions since it was first turned on. How can a light bulb last over 110 years? Better question: Why don’t they make ’em like they used to? Answer: Planned Obsolescence.

And to think I always kinda thought planned obsolescence was an urban myth.

It’s not just lightbulbs, it’s computer printers, nylon stockings, and hoards of other products. It’s the first version of the ipod that famously had an irreplaceable battery designed to give out after 28 months. Battery shot? Just buy a new ipod. Sheesh. And I thought they were a cool company.

This 52-minute documentary tells you more than you every thought to ask about planned obsolescence, and the dangerous practice of intentionally wasteful manufacturing.

What happens to substantial amounts of the waste from this planned obsolescence society of ours? While some of it is carried off to our own landfills, a substantial amount of it gets shipped to third world countries, like Ghana.

There is hope for a wiser future as some manufacturers recognize the need for sustainable practices that might be able to take us back to the philosophy of the 100-year light bulb. Forward thinkers and doers like Michael Braungart and his partner William McDonough (who isn’t in the movie but should be) are into imitating nature rather than fighting it.

We in the industrial world need to revamp our thinking, and sooner rather than later. The key to our survival on this planet is sustainability. This documentary might help to show us the way.