Warren McLaren
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.
Latest Stories from Warren McLaren - Page 12
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35% of Mountainsmith's Pack Range Made of Recycled Fabric
Back in 2007 outdoor pack manufacturer, Mountainsmith started down the track of moving its product out of virgin nylon and into recycled polyester fabrics. That transition is continuing apace. No doubt encouraged by winning a
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Australia Loves Winning Environmental Impact Trophies
This is getting downright embarrassing. Australia just keeps on winning the big ones, even nudging out our arch rival, the USA, in environmental impact. The trophy cabinet already has Australia's name inscribed on awards for: • highest rate of mammals
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Spirit Lives On. Bogged Mars Rover Gets New Job
It's now six whole years since NASA's little Rovers landed on Mars, for what were only to be three month long exploration projects. But the Rovers Spirit and Opportunity have been living up to their names, continuing to pursue their missions with power
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The North Face to Release Tree Hugger Pack From Ripstop Merino Wool (Video)
The Tree Hugger 32 is a new pack due for release by The North Face this northern hemisphere Spring of 2010. Obviously the name has a certain resonance for us, but the details of the pack also sound curious.
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Arteplas Recycled PET Ropes Divert Tons of Waste from Landfill
These days I don't, alas, find myself at the outdoor trade shows I use to haunt. So I live vicariously through other reports. Here's the first from the recent Outdoor Retailer Winter Market held in Salt Lake City Utah.
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Bike Riding 7 Year Old Raises Over $100,000 For Haiti
The other day I posed the question: "who is the more sustaining? Those who only care about themselves, or those who look out for others?" The story of Charlie Simpson, gives me hope it is the latter.
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Escape From Earth. If Only. (Video)
In encouraging support for earthquake devastated Haiti we had a few comments, including some since been removed by our moderator, that espoused a decided lack of compassion for people in need.
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The World's 11 Most Bicycle Friendly Cities
According to a list by Virgin Vacations, who suggest they relied on a methodology developed by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), known as The Bicycle Friendly Communities Campaign, which uses five criteria (engineering,
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We Win Yet Again. Australia Amongst the World's Most in Debt
Look out America! Australia wants to beat you at the dubious record awards. First we stole the title of world's best per capita greenhouse emitters, then we robbed you of the biggest new homes trophy. Then last month we
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The Story of a Hemp Bicycle and a Bamboo Bike Bus
Spiegel International have a wonderful write-up (in English) on bamboo bikes. It covers how Craig Calfee's dog inspired him to make a bike from bamboo, How he subsequently won trade shows awatds "Best Road
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StreetStrider: Cross Country Skiing on Stand-Up Trike (Video)
Remember those stories about how bike seats apparently caused havoc with male sexual performance? And how no-nose seats like the X-seat ? Well, David Kraus, an associate professor in Biology and Environmental Health Sciences at University of Alabama at
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Help For Haiti Earthquake Aftermath. Giving Green.
Photos: Deforestation, (OGL Haiti) and Earthquake (AFP Twitpic) UPDATE There is a good post on Worldchanging about how to follow the Haitian earthquake online. "early reports suggest that thousands are likely to be reported dead. Major landmarks,
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Show Us Your Best DIY Electric Bicycle, Says Renew Magazine
The print-based magazine, Renew, is running a competition to find the best DIY electric bicycle. For which they're offing bragging rights to the winner, in an upcoming issue of the magazine, as well a gift voucher at an online
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Solar Bonus Scheme Allows Householders to Farm Energy
1 January 2010 might've be hangover recovery day for many people. But in the Australian state of New South Wales it was commencement day for the Solar Bonus Scheme.
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Sea Shepherd's Ady Gil Sinks, After Bow Cut Off by Japanese Whaling Ship
The other day we covered (with video) the southern ocean collision when a Japanese whaling vessel cut clean through the bow of the Ady Gil, a trimaran from anti-whale group, Sea Shepherd.
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Japan Kills Sea Shepherd Anti Whaling Ship. For Scientific Research?
Photo: Sea Shepherd Sea Shepherd Boat Sinking Neither the kevlar reinforcing, nor a radar deflecting paint job, was enough to protect the Ady Gil trimaran from what Sea Shepherd are calling "an unprovoked attack," when the Japanese security ship Shonan
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Imagine Recycled Content Surfboards That Break in Half. On Purpose.
Imagine make surfboards from a 100% recycled, (and recyclable*) polystyrene foam they call, very informatively, B-XP3. Apparently this particular foam, besides being made as a waterproof extrusion, off-gasses 50% less volatile
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Break Me in Two, Pleads Point 65's Tequila! Kayak (Video)
Roof racks decrease a car's fuel efficiency by anything from 5%, through 10% or more. And that's empty racks. Stick our favourite sports toy up on your cars roof and watch you fuel economy plummet by up to 27%, according to Ecomodder.
