Planned obsolescence is a policy of businesses to attempt to shorten the time between repeat purchases and thereby increase sales volume and profits by designing products with an artificially reduced useful lifespan or by introducing superior replacement models. Closely related is perceived obsolescence, in which frequent stylistic changes are made to products in order to decrease the perceived desirability of previously purchased items. Categories of products for which perceived obsolescence is particularly common include automobiles, portable telephones, personal computers and clothing.
Planned obsolescence, including perceived obsolescence, can harm the environment, consumers and workers. Environmental effects include pollution from the additional extraction of resources, from shipping of the replacement products, and from disposal of the discarded products. Consumers are harmed by having less money available for other goods and services, including healthcare and education. In addition, citizens in some countries that produce the raw materials and products are harmed by harsh working conditions and child labor, such as in the mining and garment manufacturing industries.