Death by Design is a documentary film released in 2016 that highlights the catastrophic impact our electronics industry has on both the environment and the economy. Directed by Sue Williams, the film chronicles the various problems that are inherent in the electronics industry from its birth till its current state. The documentary features seasoned experts in the field of engineering and environmentalism, including but not limited to Joel Makower, Todd Paglia, Annie Leonard, and others, who talk about the environmental concerns that arise as a result of the production and disposal of electronic waste. The documentary has been made with the aim of raising awareness on the need to adopt environmentally sustainable measures so as to curtail the negative impact of rampant consumerism and dependence on gadgets.
The central theme of the documentary is that our insatiable hunger for electronics is completely unsustainable, in both an environmental and economic sense. It shows how the industry has replicated and produced more electronics than the world can possibly handle, resulting in wastage, which is in turn causing more harm than good. It delves deeper, taking a critical look at the industry and how it, despite being worthy of admiration, causes environmental harm that surpasses the good it has done.
Throughout the documentary, we learn about the numerous ethical, moral, and environmental issues that plague the industry. The footage starts in Silicon Valley, where we are introduced to the components of personal and corporate computing, before moving on to Asia, where most of the manufacturing processes occur. The problematic aspect of electronics, however, is not just the fact that they use up limited and finite resources but also that there is absolutely no method to safely dispose of the waste it creates.
The documentary introduces us to scenes that depict squabbles among residents in countries such as Ghana and India, where discarded electronics from countries in the global north end up being shipped off. The end result is lands and rivers that are no longer inhabitable due to extensive contamination by e-waste.
Death by Design also examines the various unforeseen side effects of this technology boom. For one, as more and more electronics become more ingrained in our lives, the useful life cycle of each gadget is decreasing. For example, smartphone makers now release new models every year or so, which puts pressure on people to always stay up to date. Hence, people who canât keep up with the pace of the industry get left behind, eventually being unable to keep up with basic life demands in the technological age. The drive for more electronics also leads to human rights abuses and financial exploitation of both workers and the environment.
Despite painting a bleak and depressing picture, the documentary still ends with hope for the future. It argues that itâs within our power to make a change for a better future, as long as we take the right steps. Death by Design aims to make the audience aware of the environmental implications of our electronics industry and our lives as consumers. Only through real change in production, consumption, and disposal of electronics can we create a sustainable future for our planet.
In conclusion, Death by Design is a well-made documentary that is both an eye-opener and a call to action, that we need to be aware of the faults of this industry, which we consume so much of every day. The film unearths insights and illuminates the reasons why we need to take matters into our own hands and change the way we approach electronics. The knowledge and motivation we can gain from this film can fuel our desire to make a change, creating tangible progress and solutions.
Death by Design is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 13 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.
