But then we're back to people needing to purchase new items to accommodate sudden changes in lifestyle where it just didn't make any sense since the last major

But then we're back to people needing to purchase new items to accommodate sudden changes in lifestyle where it just didn't make any sense since the last major advance in technology / the last pandemic. Sure, we know we need to avoid disposable items right now, but as disposable items go paper products are pretty dang recyclable or compostable. Whereas at other times and places conserving water is far more critical.