Also consider that compared to many hobbies, backpacking has a low environmental impact. As I get older, my ability to go backpacking becomes more dependent on my ability to lighten my load. Thus rejecting lightweight backpacking my cause me to take up another hobby that has an even larger environmental footprint, such as when I go car camping with my wife who is not physically able to backpack.
Also consider that lightweight backpacking is based, in part, on having less gear, or as they say "the lightest gear in you pack is the gear that is not in you pack". Having less gear may offset, in part or in whole, the environmental footprint of having less durable gear.
Also, some lightweight gear may have a smaller environmental footprint. For example, my 10 gram alcohol stove is homemade from a can pulled from the recycling dumpster and the fuel is carbon neutral. Even if I have to make a new one every 5 years, is that less environmentally friendly than buying a 400 gram brass stove that burns fossil fuel?
Clearly there are many complex issues to consider. I don't claim to have the answers.
Also consider that lightweight backpacking is based, in part, on having less gear, or as they say "the lightest gear in you pack is the gear that is not in you pack". Having less gear may offset, in part or in whole, the environmental footprint of having less durable gear.
Also, some lightweight gear may have a smaller environmental footprint. For example, my 10 gram alcohol stove is homemade from a can pulled from the recycling dumpster and the fuel is carbon neutral. Even if I have to make a new one every 5 years, is that less environmentally friendly than buying a 400 gram brass stove that burns fossil fuel?
Clearly there are many complex issues to consider. I don't claim to have the answers.