Technology brands like Apple have become so desirable that we’ve almost forgotten they sell products built to break, thereby keeping people shopping. But the backlash against planned obsolescence is swelling, and a new generation of design brands are creating pieces made to last.

One guy microwaves his phone instead of a burrito. Another accidentally drops it in a drink. So goes one of Virgin Mobile's 'Happy Accidents' adverts, which have been watched by millions since they first aired in 2013. It's no joke though. People really are secretly breaking their stuff. But why?

Electrical goods are the fastest increasing waste stream in the UK, growing by 5% annually. Registered charity The Restart Project challenges our disposable conditioning, and as repair culture spreads, how realistic is it to invest in a mend rather than replace attitude?

“Your phone doesn't have a floppy drive,” reads the website for the Apple Plug, “and it shouldn't have a headphone connector.” Following the launch of the iPhone 7 – without a headphone jack – it highlights the cynicism some feel over Apple potentially making another hardware staple redundant.