Pyramids of Waste: The Light Bulb Conspiracy

Synopsis

Planned obsolescence is the deliberate shortening of product life spans to guarantee consumer demand. PYRAMIDS OF WASTE (aka THE LIGHT BULB CONSPIRACY) combines investigative research and archive footage to trace the story of planned obsolescence, from its beginnings in the 1920s with a secret cartel, set up expressly to limit the life span of light bulbs, to present-day stories involving cutting edge electronics (such as the iPod) and the growing spirit of resistance amongst ordinary consumers.

This film travels to France, Germany, Spain and the US to find witnesses of a business practice which has become the basis of the modern economy, and brings back disquieting pictures from Africa where discarded electronics are piling up in huge cemeteries for electronic waste. Economists and environmentalists believe that the growth society as we know it is unsustainable in the long run and that planned obsolescence needs to become a thing of the past, as it is impossible to combine the limitless consumption of resources with a finite planet. But what are the alternatives? The film offers thought-provoking analysis by thinkers working on ways of saving both the economy and the environment, and presents hands-on stories showing entrepreneurs putting new business models into practice. (53 minutes)

Language

English

Country

Spain; France

Year of release

2010

Year of production

2010

Notes

Available from Concord media in 52 minute and 75 minute versions.

Subjects

Business studies; Environmental science; Technology

Keywords

business plans; environmental issues; technological innovation; planned obsolescence

Credits

Director

Cosima Dannoritzer

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£39.50

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

52 minutes

Year

2013

Production Company

Name

ARTE France

Email

http://www.arteboutique.com/inputContact.action

Web

http://boutique.arte.tv/ External site opens in new window

Address

STACI
ARTE Boutique 1610
B.P. 59124 - 95074 Cergy Pontoise
France

Notes

An extensive range of programmes broadcast on the French Arte channel, relating to art and culture. Most are only available in French, but some have English audio or subtitles. Sale on Region 2 PAL DVD.

Name

Televisio de Catalunya

Name

Television Espanola

Distributor

Name

Concord Media

Email

sales@concordmedia.org.uk

Web

http://www.concordmedia.org.uk/ External site opens in new window

Phone

01473 726 012

Address

Rosehill Centre
22 Hines Road
Ipswich
IP3 9BG

Notes

A long-established, not-for-profit organisation with a large collection DVDs, specialising in the sectors of general and mental health, child care, race relations, war and peace, addictions, the third world, ecology, civil rights, personal relationships, educational issues, and social work training. Concord also handles titles made for the Graves Medical Audio-visual Library. Sale on DVD. Formerly known as Concord Video and Film Council. In 2014 Concord began to offer selected films as Video on Demand, via Vimeo.

Name

The Video Project

Email

support@videoproject.com

Web

http://www.videoproject.com/contact.html External site opens in new window

Fax

+1 1-888 562 9012

Address

PO Box 411376
San Francisco
CA 94141 1376
USA