Warren McLaren

Writer / Bundanoon, Australia

Warren was one for the earliest writers for TreeHugger, way back in 2004, and has edited the weekly newsletter since its inception in 2005. These days, when not chained to his screen and keyboard, he also works for Australia's largest provider of outdoor education programs, designing courses to get kids outside into the sun and wind. Or can be found proudly watching his toddling young son harvest his own home-grown, organic strawberries and tomatoes.

Previously a designer of outdoor clothing and equipment for over a decade, Warren was one of the first, outside of the U.S., to specify fleece made from recycled drink bottles in the early 90's. He is a life member (and spent 15 years as a committee member) of Australia's first ecodesign not-for-profit, the Society for Responsible Design.

Warren later set up his own ecodesign consultancy, which saw him involved in myriad eco projects, like being lead researcher for Greenpeace's analysis of the Sydney Olympic "Green Games"; laying the groundwork for Ecospecifier, a database of green building materials; and lead editor of Environ, Australia's first trade magazine dedicated to eco-architecture. As well as lecturing at universities in green textiles, sustainable interior design and ecodesign, he's also got his hands dirty; managing teams in land conservation projects, co-managing a community re-use co-operative, and coordinating an organic wholefoods co-op.

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  Ibex's Wool Will Be 100% American, Grown To Sewn

  The clothing manufacturer plans to source, fabricate and sew its Shak Lite wool garments completely within the USA

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  Two Per Cent of US Road Deaths Are Cyclists

  Bad news: 630 cyclists died in 2009. Good news? That's down 12% on 2008.

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  ‘Speed Date a Sustainable Designer,’ A Sanctuary Magazine Project

  Date a green designer/architect, or read the magazine that does it for you.

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  Recycle Outdoor Gear. Does Just That.

  Pass on your treasured yet dusty outdoor clothing and equipment to others

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  Sun Roof on Apple's New HQ May be One of US's Largest Solar Installations

  The Sun Roof on Apple's New Headquarters maybe one of the US's, and world's, biggest solar installations

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  Solar Charging Meets Social Networking With Changers

  Charge electronic gadgets from the sun, share with the world, ... and earn credits

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  The North Face Unveils First Sustainability Report

  Iconic outdoor clothing and equipment maven, The North Face, details its expedition into sustainability

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  Patagonia: Don't Buy Our Jackets

  Outdoor clothier, Patagonia, bucks Black Friday with radical anti-consumption message

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  Khunu Adds More Soft Himalayan Yak Wool Apparel

  New cosy yak wool garments are perfect for winter

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  New i-Spy Corporate Transparency and Eco-Clothing from Finisterre

  “If you are selling something, in exchange for cash, it simply isn’t good enough. Give them something else, something that counts, something that doesn’t have a price tag — a smile, a tear, and idea!”

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  Steve Jobs: The Computer is a Bicycle For Our Minds

  Following on from Mike's Vale for Steve Jobs. I'd like to tender, as my tribute, this quote and video, in which a young Steve, ever the visionary, remarks: ... the computer is the most remarkable tool

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  All Wrapped up In Mongolian Yak Wool

  All photos: Khunu Indigenous Designs helped find a niche for Alpaca in the western wardrobes, Icebreaker almost singlehandedly rediscovered Merino wool for performance outdoor apparel, Finisterre are saving an unique British breed of sheep from oblivion

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  Nau Fall 2011 Now Available

  As we've alluded to in one or two prior posts Nau were planning to release some snug outdoor winter garments, made in part with recycled coconut waste. That time has arrived. It's now, you might say. The garment is known as the Insular

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  Patagonia Says, "Buy Our Stuff On eBay"

  Ever the maverick Patagonia gets a little crazy once again. As an extension of their long running Common Threads program (where they take back old outdoor garments for recycling into new fibres) they've now partnered with eBay, the

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  Save a Threatened Breed. Wear It: Finisterre's Bowmont Beanie

  Last week was Wool Week in the United Kingdom, The perfect time for sustainable outdoor clothing brand Finisterre to announce they finally have some fruits of their labour, to keep alive the Bowmont sheep.

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  Rohan Embraces Corporate Responsibility, Bit by Bit

  Around mid last year I was disparaging about the UK's Ethical Consumer group ranking outdoor clothing purveyors Patagonia and Rohan equally, when in my mind the former is far and away the greener of the two, particularly when its

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  Britain's Biggest Indoor Climbing Gym Reaches for Sustainability

  The Castle Climbing Centre in London, as it's name suggests, has reused a Castle, although technically it was previously a water pumping station. Receiving more annual visits than

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  Finally. Graduate Sustainable Design Showcase Goes National

  The Society for Responsible Design, founded in 1989, may be one of the oldest professional associations committed to the pursuit of environmentally and socially aware design. Now, after eight years of dedicated volunteer hard yards showcasing