The Uncarved Block of Materials

Pu—the uncarved block—represents simplicity and authenticity in the Daodejing. Applied to e-waste, it challenges the maximalist ethos of tech design: endless features, obscured components, sealed enclosures. An uncarved block device would use essential materials honestly—no hidden layers, no glued-together screens, no proprietary screws. This radical simplicity serves global justice by enabling repair, recycling, and transparency about resource extraction. Currently, manufacturers hide conflict minerals and labor exploitation behind sleek cases. Pu demands honesty: showing the materials, their origins, and their end-of-life pathways. Laozi teaches that simplicity is more powerful than complexity. A truly simple phone—repairable, upgradeable, recyclable—would outperform fashionable devices designed for landfills. This concept challenges the assumption that progress requires complication, proposing instead that authentic design respects both materials and human dignity across supply chains.