[shrek]

Well most electronics these days have some components that are made using unethical materials or labor. There's really not a way around it. When I can I like to repurpose old machines that would otherwise be thrown out, since e-waste is horrible for the environment. Even recycling them leads to a lot of waste. It's easy to add a few new components where needed, reinstall an OS, and give/sell them to people who are in need. I sometimes keep those machines for myself and use them for various projects. 

Obviously this isn't an option for everyone and some people need new hardware. In that case it's out of your hands and I think it's fine to just buy what you need. System76 is probably the best option for open firmware out of the box if you want an x86 laptop.