THE LIGHTBULB CONSPIRACY - DOCUMENTARY (2010) 💡

This 2010 Spanish documentary, directed by Joan Úbeda and Cosima Dannoritzer, investigates planned obsolescence, the practice of designing products to become obsolete quickly to stimulate consumption, using the Phoebus cartel of the 1920s as a key example where major lightbulb manufacturers agreed to limit bulb lifespans to 1,000 hours, far below their potential 100,000 hours. It examines modern applications in appliances, electronics, and fashion, highlighting economic, environmental, and social consequences, with interviews from experts, consumers, and industry insiders across Europe and the US.