In the 1920s a coordinated decision had been taken by a global cartel of companies to reduce the lifespan of bulbs.
It was known as the Phoebus cartel.
The cartel's origins came from the chairman of Osran, his name was William Meinhardt.
Meinhardt wanted to standardise and control the way in which light bulbs were manufactured.
In 1924 the world's biggest electrical companies hammered out a deal in Geneva.