Your garage might be home to a fridge that was purchased during Bob Hawke’s prime ministership in the 1980s but still keeps your coldies, well, cold.
The fridge is more than a relic of the past because it is still working, unlike many of today’s range of large home appliances.
In an era where technological advancements have significantly improved our daily lives, the lifespan of fridges, washing machines, ovens and other domestic essentials has retracted to propel us into a seemingly endless loop of replacement over repair.
Unlike the 40-year-old fridge in your garage that has never “chilled” on its performance, complaints with modern-day appliances are heating up.
The truth is they just do not make whitegoods like they used to.
Modern appliances, while sleek and brimming with innovative features, have raised a number of concerns among consumers to highlight a growing disconnect between the allure of technological advancement and the practicalities of everyday use and sustainability.
At the heart of these concerns is the question of durability.
Unlike their predecessors, which boasted lifespans of several decades, many of today’s appliances seem to last only a few years.
This decline in longevity is often attributed to the use of cheaper materials, a focus on cutting costs and a business model that leans towards planned obsolescence, encouraging consumers to replace rather than repair.
Even if we do want to repair rather than replace, there is a good chance that if the appliance is more than a few years old the parts required will no longer be available.
The complexity of modern appliances adds another layer of frustration.
Features such as touch screens, Wi-Fi connectivity and smart-home integration offer potential conveniences but also introduce prospective points of failure.
If that is not enough to concern you, then environmental and ethical concerns just might.
The shift towards appliances that need frequent replacing burdens landfills because of the significant amount of waste which is generated.
It is true that the lifespan of modern household appliances can differ widely depending on brand quality, usage rates and the level of maintenance they receive.
Yet the overall picture points to a shrinking lifespan, pushing us towards an era where the longevity of our household helpers is becoming as obsolete as the models they replace.
We are rapidly growing weary of witnessing the never-ending cycle of those perplexing error codes that transform our homes into a bewildering maze of technical troubleshooting rather than a place of comfort and convenience.
In response to these concerns, there is a growing demand for appliances that prioritise durability, repairability and environmental sustainability in favour of cutting-edge technology.
While this trend continues to gain momentum, it might prompt manufacturers to reconsider their design and production philosophies to strike a better balance between modern conveniences and long-term sustainability.
As for that old fridge in the garage, give me the chill factor of yesteryear over today’s lukewarm longevity anytime.
Professor Gary Martin is CEO of AIM WA and a workplace and social affairs expert.
