Maybe making this particular product more repairable or more recyclable isn't going to save the planet, but the status quo is that consumer goods are disposable

Maybe making this particular product more repairable or more recyclable isn't going to save the planet, but the status quo is that consumer goods are disposable and short-lived, and that's the real problem. Keep in mind, the cost of waste of a product is not only the product itself, but also its packaging, marketing materials, etc. Companies know they can make products that will become waste in a short period of time, which increases profitability because people will have to buy things more frequently. The cost of disposal gets pushed onto society, with companies taking little or no responsibility for it.