User:ClairePurdue/Toaster

History
The toaster's popularity grew in sales from 400,000 in 1922 to 1.2 million sales in 1930.

Looking towards the future of the toaster
Toasters have been growing in popularity as soon as they were created. The market has been improving the toaster to the modern toaster today. But are there still improvements to be made? The toaster market believes there is, as they predict the size of the global market will grow from 5.9 Billion USD reported in 2022 to 9.15 Billion USD in 2032. Increased urbanization and the spread of western culture has created a demand for toasted breakfast foods. Many new factors are being researched for upgrading to toaster such as defrosting, reheating, creating an energy efficient toaster, and an overall improvement in the toasting process to name a few. These features will increase the price when buying a new toaster and could also cause a lot of old toaster waste as many people are looking to upgrade their breakfast experience.

Environmental impact
The toaster has a bigger impact on the environment than what meets the eye. Starting with the food you put into a toaster, bread waste has a big strain on the earth. There can be 977 to 1244 g of carbon emissions connected to 800 g of bread. Bread is the 4th most wasted food on earth and creates considerable biowaste leading to excess carbon and methane emissions.

Secondly, the actual toaster does not have a positive impact either. Any item that creates smoke in the house can pollute the air. The toaster is the worst in this case which can release toxic chemicals once turned on. Some toasters are being advertised as being ‘non-toxic’ and are made without PFAs which are toxic chemicals coating appliances.

Economic impact
Another impact the toaster has had over the years has been economic. Toasters have been growing in popularity as soon as they were created. The market has been improving the toaster to the modern toaster today. But are there still improvements to be made? The toaster market believes there is, as they predict the size of the global market will grow from 5.9 Billion USD reported in 2022 to 9.15 Billion USD in 2032. Increased urbanization and the spread of western culture has created a demand for toasted breakfast foods. Many new factors are being researched for upgrading to toaster such as defrosting, reheating, creating an energy efficient toaster, and an overall improvement in the toasting process to name a few. These features will increase the price when buying a new toaster and could also cause a lot of old toaster waste as many people are looking to upgrade their breakfast experience.

Disparities relating to the toaster
A toaster, a staple in many kitchens, is more than just a device for browning bread. It’s a symbol of technological progress and social identities. Its image highlights the complexities of class, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion, and other underrepresented groups. To start, a toaster is a convivence in many households, allowing a quick breakfast or an easy snack. However, it can create some disparities between classes and social status. Some enjoy toasters with a clean slick look and multiple settings, while others opt for the cheaper, simpler version due to cost differences. The cost of a toaster may be insignificant to some while repressing to others, making the toaster a symbol of status and diverging economic paths that technology can create or reinforce. Next, the standard toaster design is not intended for everyone. People with certain disabilities may find it challenging to use, revealing how technology often overlooks the needs of the disabled. However, some advancements like toasters with larger, easy-to-grip handles, or auditory alerts, or adding tactile buttons or dials, are helping transcend these barriers and advance in technological inclusiveness. The toaster also interacts with ethnicity and race. For instance, traditional breads of some cultures do not fit into regular toasters quietly reinforcing a western world angle. This issue brings to attention the need for more inclusive designs in technology, allowing different cultures and backgrounds to utilize up-to-date, modern equipment while keeping their traditions and ideals passed down from their ancestors. Historically, household appliances have been marketed towards women who were assumed to be taking care of the household chores such as cooking. Old toaster advertisements were tailored towards the husband to buy for their wife to make their chores easier. These enforced the old ideas of gender roles and have now moved to a gender-neutral idea of the toaster. However, acknowledging the disparities among genders helps us to continue to grow and transcend these ideas along with creating new technologies to progress in the norms of today’s age. Toasters can also intersect with religious or ritual purposes. Religious traditions may utilize the toaster to celebrate a certain holiday. Another way toasted bread has been used in rituals dates back from the Romans when they added toasted breadcrumbs to bitter wine and called it “toasting” to drink to one’s health. Finally, the toaster has interactions with underrepresented people. People with a gluten intolerance usually end up with burnt bread after using a regular toaster due to the different components of gluten-free bread. Some newer toasters include a gluten-free button to help compensate for the minority group. In conclusion, the toaster has been a symbol of dividing barriers in technology, but with more progress and acknowledgement of past discrepancies, toasters can create bridges connecting social identities and technological progress.