A regulatory term referring to a product design feature or subsequent action or omission resulting in the product becoming non-functional or performing.
Premature obsolescence is part of the formal vocabulary used in digital product passports, product sustainability information, durability, and ecodesign compliance. For this glossary, the key point is understanding how the source defines the term and where that definition sits within broader compliance or data requirements.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for sustainable products
a product design feature or subsequent action or omission resulting in the product becoming non-functional or performing less well without such changes of functionality or performance being the result of normal wear and tear;
Reference: Article 2, point 21
In practice, this term matters when companies collect, structure, verify, or communicate sustainability data within digital product passports, product sustainability information, durability, and ecodesign compliance.
For Minespider, premature obsolescence is not just descriptive language. It is a modeling term that affects how sustainability, emissions, lifecycle, or product information should be captured and compared.