Challenge for the present and future

A throw-away society is a human society strongly influenced by consumerism. The term describes a critical view of over-consumption and excessive production of short-lived or disposable items.

Between the start of New York City waste collections in 1905 and 2005 there was a tenfold rise in "product waste" (packaging and old products), from 92 to 1,242 pounds per person per year. Containers and packaging now represent 32 percent of all municipal solid waste. Non-durable goods (products used less than three years) are 27 percent, and durable goods are 16 percent.

“Planned obsolescence” was a manufacturing philosophy developed in the 1920’s and 1930’s, when mass production became popular. The goal was to make a product or part that will fail, or become less desirable over time or after a certain amount of use. In many areas this way of thinking has continued into the 21st Century.

Convenience has put burdens on all of us since the 1960s. We are paying for it twice, first when we buy waste-generating, wastefully packaged products and then when we send them into our publicly supported waste management systems. There is a better way.

Historic Bickel Block Restoration - Portland, Oregon (photo: Dan Haneckow)

The current vintage community must continue the traditions, share the stories, honor the heritage and value the innovators and designers in eras before their own. By reducing waste, reusing items instead of disposing of them, restoring products (and architecture) instead of "throwing it out", and by teaching youth the value of the past the vintage community can make a difference on what happens in our future.