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 4
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Pants & Bike Lights. Don't Leave Home Without Them
Would you leave home without pulling on some pants? That's the question being asked by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Portland
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50 Year Old Fjällräven Wins Sustainability Award
Fjällräven, the Swedish outdoor gear and clothing company, has been celebrating its 50 year birthday of late, with a few prizes picked up for a new eco products. Most recently they scored a Sustainability Award
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From Socks to SuperBugs, Finisterre Has You Covered
As we've said before, Finisterre is an outdoor apparel company we've a great deal of respect for. They go from strength to strength. Aside from winning one award after the other, and garnering positive magazine gear reviews, they
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Makedo. Kool Klever Kreation Kits For Kids
The Makedo connector set. TreeHugger's Roberta picked it as one of her 10 Best Green Toys at last years international toy fair. Then when readers selected it as their top Industrial Design or Design Idea for
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First Bottled Water Free University for Australia
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canberra announced on Friday 21 January that its campus will discontinue the sale of bottled water by World Water Day (22 March 201). The initiative started by students, assisted by
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Islamic Cycling, Space Tourism, Norway by Bike & Ski? Wend Magazine Has It All
Wend magazine continues to bring together intriguing stories about human powered adventures from around the world. In the current issue, they inform us that in 2010 officials in Isfahan,
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Can Down be Ethical or Green?
Down remains, arguably, the most efficient insulator available (although Aerogel with its amazing 95% air content, is trying), with which to make cold weather garments, sleeping bags and bedding, ). And according to
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The Library With No Books. Town Borrows All 16,000
Mohandas 'Mahatma' Gandhi was a famous proponent of nonviolent civil disobedience, seeing it as "a weapon of the strong." That's not to suggest that he advocated inaction. On the contrary, he said,
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ReChaco Program Repairs 20,000 Pairs of Sandals
If you're a regular reader of TreeHugger, you'll be familiar with our most prolific writer, Lloyd Alter, who has a bee in his bonnet about Recycling and takes ever opportunity to
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Khunu Brings Yak Wool to Womens Wardrobes Too
We first showcased Khunu when they launched their line of yak wool tops for guys early in 2010. Now they're back with a winter collection, which includes three styles for women as well. Yak wool is said to be up to 15% warmer than merino
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Bicycles Eat SUV
The last thing the world needs is yet another message T-shirt, but I just couldn't go past this great graphic of the bicycle fish eating the sports utility vehicle. It does help that image is emblazoned on
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Nau Is A Style Winner in Eco Clothing. It's Official
Nau, one of our favourite eco clothiers was recently presented with the ISPO (international sports expo) BrandNew Award in the Style category. "Nau combines urban style and high end outdoor functionality on a unprecedented level,"
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"Inland Tsunami." An Area of Australia Equal to Two Texas's Declared Flood Disaster
Almost two years ago Australia endured its worst bushfire catastrophe, when over 400 wildfires engulfed the state of Victoria and claimed 173 lives, injuring over 400
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Sustainable Refrainables. An EcoDesign Poster Comp. Vote Now.
How do you sell the concept of sustainability? What are the phrases that you feel will move people toward sustainable design and business solutions?
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Potty Trained Pigs Cut Waste Water by 80%
Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration has announced that, following the success of some trials in 2009, it is looking to have pig breeders 'toilet train' their porkers, in a
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Sun Powered Building Facade Opens and Closes Itself
A property developer who was building a 9 Star energy efficient house once confided in me, that much of that efficiency would be squandered if the
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Funky Folding Fairing for Hase's Klimax Electric Trike
Hase have been making bikes for over 15 years, but they seem particularly pleased with their latest offering the award winning KLIMAX. This electric-assist recumbent tricycle is designed for all weather riding, by virtue of wind and
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Bikes for the World Need a Storage Site. Can You Help?
Bikes for the World donates used bicycles to non-profit community programs in Africa and Central America "to enable the poor to hold jobs, attend school, and obtain health services." To date they've processed about
