Planowane postarzanie produktów – analiza zjawiska w kontekście prawodawstwa europejskiego
Built-in Obsolescence of Products – an Analysis of the Phenomenon in the Context of European Legislation

Summary/Abstract: The modern trends in product management tend to a clear cutting short the product’s life cycle. An aim of considerations is an attempt to describe the phenomenon of planned (or built-in) obsolescence of the product as well as to determine its impact on consumers and the environment. Based on the genesis and evolution of this phenomenon, the author assessed the issuing therefrom negative but also positive social effects. In his article, the author showed that the planned products obsolescence affects consumers’ purchasing decisions, albeit products purchasers often are not aware of the fact that manufacturers intentionally limit functionality and time-period of the use of products they manufacture. Based on literature studies, the author presented the proposal to classify that heterogeneous phenomenon which the planned obsolescence of products is as well as its diversified forms. In his article, he presented the factors which prompt enterprises to apply such an approach in product management. He also indicated the benefits and threats entailed by that procedure for users and what consequences it creates for the natural environment. The aspect of environmental protection is shown against the background of a review of legal acts of the European Union, which, on the one hand, try to protect consumers and to limit the planned products obsolescence and, at the same time, introduce solutions imposing the technologies which in consequence bring the effect of cutting short the product’s life cycle.

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