Lorna Sutherland: Can we have a 'forever fridge'?

AWHILE ago, I sent this letter:

Dear Fisher & Paykel,

I have a wish that you might well be able to help with.

Please make appliances, large and small, that last "forever".

By that I mean ones that are designed to outlast a family's need for them. They will have to be (a) made of very tough materials, and (b) repairable, because accidents happen and parts wear out.

To a manufacturer this may sound like I'm asking you to commit seppuku, because short lives for appliances keep business ticking over nicely and accommodate innovation. But built-in obsolescence creates waste for all of us, and we consumers really resent the time and hassle it costs us.

How about adding repair to the principles of reduce, re-use and recycle?

If appliances were designed from scratch with the twin objectives of durability and repairability, each component would need to be replaceable.

If the designer held the copyright for all parts they would be able to store not parts, but the digital plans for them. Then, years down the track, if a repair was necessary, the part plan could be sent to a local repair facility's 3D printer, which would make it. (General Electric is already working towards this for spare parts for its jet engines.)

You, the copyright holder, could make a charge for access to the part's specifications, and the local producer could add his diagnosis/part printing/installation fee.

Because the enormous expense of maintaining a spare parts inventory and the time and further expense of shipping would be eliminated from the repair scenario, this should be affordable.

I realise that building in durability would contribute to a greater up-front cost, but if the "Forever Fridge" was marketed right, I do believe the market is ready.

The values of young people everywhere in the developed world (I would expect these to be your prime target demographic) are changing markedly from those of their parents. They are far more environmentally and socially aware, and this is making them less materialistic. They will understand how much waste the "repair rather than replace" approach eliminates, and they will value the fact that worn-out parts are recyclable.

Innovation could be accommodated by using pure classic exterior design, something F&P are already very good at, and making the electronics component either upgradeable or easily replaceable. Imagine having a fridge that became more efficient as it got older!

I understand this isn't going to happen with the wave of a wand, but it will have to happen, and the sooner it starts the better.

We live on a finite planet. Having read your sustainability statement, Fisher & Paykel seems like a good company to lead the charge.

Thanks for reading this.Lorna SutherlandThe reply:

Thank you for contacting Customer Care. Thank you for taking the time to email us your ideas for the future.

I have passed your thoughts on to our design team to consider.Kind regardsNicoleCustomer Care

What's the point of this exercise? Unless we ask clearly for change, waste will continue to be a big problem for all of us. Don't be shy. Ask.

-Lorna Sutherland would like to remind readers about This Changes Everything, screening next Wednesday at 6:30pm at the Embassy. Tickets at www.tugg.com/events/89939