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 5
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Knog Boomer Bike Light Recharges in Your USB Port
Continuing our recent exploration of newish bike lights (see links below), we turn our attention to the Knog Boomer Rechargeable. The Boomer has an integrated lithium-Ion polymer battery, which when you pop the light out of its
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Mama Don't Take My Kodachrome Away. Last Roll Processed
Paul Simon echoed the sentiments of many photographers when he sang "Mama don't take my Kodachrome away." But for the 75 year old iconic slide transparency film, time is finally up. On 30 December 2010 Dwayne's Photo studio
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Cane Toad Sneakers. Put A Little Spring in Your Step
Sneakers crafted from Cane Toads is such a perfect companion story to our piece on footballs made from feral camels. Cane toads are an introduced pest in Australia that are so toxic they kill the native wildlife that attempt
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Kun_Tiqi Carve It Up with Balsa Surfboards
We've covered a whole quiver of wooden surfboards in the past (links below), but the Kun_Tiqi boards somehow slipped under our radar, until showing up on the screen as one of the finalists for the international sports expo (ISPO)
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Vere Sandal To Make Greener Thongs in USA
One of the persistent gripes we get from our USA readers is "Okay, so product x is greener, but why does it have to be made in China? Can't we make it here?" John Eades, and business partner Michael Ferreri, will be hoping
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Green Landlord Awards. Would You Nominate Yours?
What sets Renew magazine apart from the myriad other eco technology and green lifestyle publications on newstand shelves, is that it has no 'puff pieces', no light reading articles. Rather it's full of gritty, information
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Led by Lite's Bike Strap Lighting Uses 42 LEDs (Video)
Continuing our ungoing peek at new bike lights we turn our attention to the LBL (or Led by Lite). Unlike the recently mentioned Fibre FlareFibre Flare and Bike Glow, the LBL, whilst also strip lighting, does not use a
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Wicked Hemp's Hikers in Hemp for Women (and Men!) Updated.
Oops. Somehow we missed these and they've been around for a couple of years too. Hiking boots for women made with uppers of 75% to 85% hemp, natural rubber soles, with toe caps and heel stabilisers fashioned from recycled PVC.
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The Mesh Explains Why the Present and Future of Business is Sharing (Book Review)
Lisa Gansky sees a new emerging business model emerging. One she has dubbed, The Mesh. "... one in which consumers have more choices, more tools, more information, and more power to guide those choices." A model
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Nike's Six Million Environmental Design Tool. Now Yours. For Free.
A couple of weeks ago Nike unveiled a for-general-consumption version of their Environmental Apparel Design Tool. It is a replica of the calculator they use in-house when putting together their Considered Design collection, and is said to
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Bike Glow. If You're on The Go, Let Cars Know
The other day we mentioned Fibre Flare, a long line LED bike light system. Here's another light to consider, if you want to stand a better chance of being seen at night. The Bike Glow is a three metre (10 ft) long length of flexible
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US Retailers Say Going Green Makes Business Sense
In 2010, 61% of US retailers surveyed by Retail Systems Research observed that green initiatives "make good business sense," up from 49% the previous year. However, the report "Lean and Green: Sustainable Practices Are
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More Than Lip Service - Elemental Herbs Garner Green Award
Using herbs for preventative or curative health is as old as humankind. But these days before we put some lotion or other on our skin it seems we need a PHD in chemistry to understand the product's ingredients. Elemental Herbs
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IKEA Thanks USA Staff With 12,400 Free Bicycles
IKEA is giving its 12,400 staff, in the USA, an early Holiday present. "We hope this bike will be taken in the spirit of the season while supporting a healthy lifestyle and everyday sustainable transport," said Mike Ward,
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Patagonia's P26 "Zero Impact" Boot. A Product Review.
Patagonia Footwear took part in a challenge issued by Backpacker Magazine* to see if it was possible to create a 'Zero Impact' boot for the haul of backpack loads up to 14 kg (30lb). Patagonia's response was the P26, which
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Schwinn's Vestige. Flax Frame Bike Glows At Night
Thought we covered this a month or two ago, but alas not. Schwinn won the Eurobike Gold Award, in the Cruiser/Designbike category, with their Vestige bike, touted as the first ever Flax Fiber Bicycle. Maybe they need to add Mass
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Fibre Flare - Long Line LEDs for Velocipede Visibility
Nearly 70% of all nighttime Bicycle-Car collisions are due to inadequate side visibility, according to information garnered by Fibre Flare. A firm, who as coincidence would have it, happen to make a high intensity omni-directional
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Puma Pounces on Sustainability Award
A couple of days ago, the sports company Puma picked up the German Sustainability Award 2010, in the category "Most Sustainable Strategy." Over 560 companies entered in the 2010 competition, so we imagine it was a rather happy Puma CEO and
