It was on a course called "Creative Management" I was sent on that one thing they came up with. It was about creativity not management - I found out eventually.

Everything wears out.

Yea you knew it sort of. You repair. You buy new. But when you are creating something, the life-time of a product may not be part of the design.
Clothes soften until they tear, shoes abraid to the uppers or fall apart, cars/bikes rust but there is always that new shining thing that is better anyway, so more rarely do you keep things to their end point. I did when I was an apprentice, but as the years and salary lengthen, and time shortens you forget.

And with the advance od credit cards and NFC phone apps - it looks like paper and nickel (steel now) are wearing thin. Just like Gold and Silver did.