Identifying useful modes of obsolescence in the development of life cycle analysis and the circular economy

In Chapter Two of ‘Longer Lasting Products’i I identified four modes of obsolescence that had proven useful in evaluating the life expectancy and the likely causes of obsolescence for any product; these being - Aesthetic Obsolescence, Social Obsolescence, Technological Obsolescence, and Economic Obsolescence. Further work to date has helped reinforce these four modes, especially in the development of Life Cycle Analyses. More recently, with the growing apparent reduction in many product life times, the predictability of likely modes of obsolescence appears to have become even more identifiable, and as a consequence revealed the nature of two additional useful modes of obsolescence. The first of these being: Use Obsolescence. This mode relates largely to the consequences of wear-and tear and often environmentally impactful aspects of a product’s Use phase; e.g. substances like worn tyre particles, and even chewing gum. The second is termed: Convenience Obsolescence, which relates to products developed to make an activity or task more convenient. We have recently become more aware of the implications of the many ‘single-use’ plastic products, but this issue extends to many other products that exist simply ‘to make our lives easier’, often epitomising the umbrella of the ‘Throwaway Society’. This paper will explore the two new modes and discuss how planning for the six modes of obsolescence can help in the development of data related to appropriate product life times in a truly Circular Economy.