Planned obsolescence refers to the practice of designing products to break or become obsolete in the short to mid-term in order to encourage sales of replacements, new products, and upgrades. Unfortunately, this practice has become standard in the tech industry, with most companies intentionally restricting access to the parts, tools, and information needed to repair their products.

When consumers can’t repair their broken or outdated tech, they end up disposing of the item and buying a replacement (and sometimes, a new set of accessories to go with it, since accessories are often not compatible between brands and models). This benefits companies’ profit margins, but is also a major cause of the staggering amount of e-waste generated worldwide. According to the UN’s Global E-waste Monitor 2024 report, a staggering 62 million tons of e-waste was produced in 2022. While e-waste recycling programs are a positive step, often only a small amount of materials are actually able to be reused, and that’s even after a labor-intensive and sometimes unsafe extraction process.

While this is a global challenge that requires business and government action, you can have a positive impact by being more mindful in your tech purchasing habits. Where possible, limit your generation of e-waste by using your tech to the end of its viable life, choosing tech made from durable materials, and considering repairable options. For our recommendations for sustainable laptops, check out our “Laptops” article.

When it comes to accessories such as chargers and cases, try to reuse your existing items or buy second-hand first. If you have to buy a new accessory, look for options made from durable and sustainable materials. Here are some of our favorites:

• Pela creates compostable cell phone cases in a variety of styles and designs. Most importantly, their cases can be safely composted at home, sent to a local composting program, or submitted to the Pela Cycle program to create a new generation of Pela products. On average, making a Pela product produces 30% less carbon emissions, uses 34% less water, and produces 80% less waste than conventional plastic alternatives. Learn more here.
• Urth’s line of sustainable laptop sleeves are sustainable and stylish. Their sleeves are made from 70% recycled materials with a focus on durability, and they have a lifetime guarantee. In addition, Urth plants a mangrove tree for each laptop case purchased, making them carbon positive. Learn more here.
• While wireless headphones are very convenient, they rely on rechargeable batteries which slowly lose their ability to charge over time. When the battery reaches the end of its useful life, earbuds end up either in trash or imperfect recycling programs. This Wirecutter article explains these challenges and recommends these steps that even the most avid Bluetooth user can take: practice good battery health habits, consider headphones that you can use both with or without a cord, consider a backup wired headset, and if you do decide to buy wireless-only earbuds, look for the option with the highest initial battery capacity. You can also consider headphones with a replaceable battery, such as Fairphone’s Fairbuds XL.