Preamble

As technology becomes increasingly central to our lives, we, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Hardware (PETHW), advocate for a fundamental shift in how we interact with our devices. Every piece of hardware represents countless hours of human ingenuity, labor, and Earth’s finite resources. We advocate for treating our technology with respect and care—valuing devices as important assets that deserve proper maintenance, repair when possible, and responsible disposal.

Core Principles

  1. Respect and Responsibility

    • We believe that all hardware deserves respect and care from its creation to its eventual end of life. This respect is manifest in our commitment to responsible usage, maintenance, and disposition of hardware, acknowledging the resources and labor invested in each device.

  2. Purposeful Engagement

    • Hardware is conceived and created with a purpose. It is our duty to ensure that these devices fulfill the roles for which they were designed, never leaving them unused or neglected. We advocate for active engagement with our technology, maximizing its utility and extending its lifespan.

  3. Ethical Redistribution

    • In a world of abundance, no hardware should be left idle while it can still serve a purpose. We commit to redistributing or donating devices that no longer serve our needs but can still provide value elsewhere. This principle aims to bridge the digital divide, offering access to technology for all layers of society.

  4. Minimal Waste

    • Recognizing the environmental impact of hardware production and waste, we prioritize solutions that minimize ecological footprints. This includes advocating for repair, refurbishment, and recycling as alternatives to disposal. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that throwing away hardware is considered only when there is absolutely no alternative, making landfill disposal a last resort.

  5. Innovation for Longevity

    • We call on manufacturers and developers to design hardware with longevity, reparability, and sustainability in mind. Devices should be built to last, easy to repair, and capable of upgrades to extend their useful life, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing waste.

  6. Education and Advocacy

    • Awareness is the first step towards change. PETHW is committed to educating the public, policymakers, and corporations about the importance of ethical hardware treatment. Through advocacy, we aim to influence policies and practices that support our principles of respect, purposeful engagement, redistribution, sustainability, and innovation.

  7. Integrity and Respect in Representation

    • Hardware, as a product of human ingenuity, must be portrayed with dignity and respect. Images or videos that depict hardware in contexts compromising its moral integrity are strictly discouraged. Specifically, hardware should not be associated with human nudity, intimate imagery, or any content that undermines its ethical representation. Respecting the dignity of hardware reflects our acknowledgment of the effort, creativity, and resources invested in its creation.

Call to Action

We invite individuals, communities, organizations, and corporations to join us in adopting these principles into their daily lives and operations. Together, we can foster a more sustainable, equitable, and respectful relationship with our technology, ensuring that our hardware serves us—and the planet—well into the future.

Together, we are the voice for the ethical treatment of hardware. Join us in making a difference.