This means that judgements must be used as to how much is enough. Seldom can absolute decisions be made. The impact on the environment of manufacturing and disposing of a refrigerator is similar, whether it lasts for as little as five or as many as 25 years. The relative impact of the former is five times more. No doubt manufacturers will contend that technical improvements in operating efficiency may offset this difference somewhat.
Disposable products are to be viewed with downright suspicion.
I suspect that the world is waiting with interest to see if the wooden disposable chopsticks of Japan, or disposable nappies will be viable for much longer. The notion of 'sustainability', that is, the capacity to consume a particular resource indefinitely, is always worth exploring when comparing products. It is also a major source of pollutants on a global scale. However. we have accepted these huge disbenefits as a trade-off for freedom of movement. In India, mosquito-borne disease is a predominant worry, whilst we are worried by environmental carcinogens.