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Manuel said: "This is great news! I hope all cities pass this into law.The practice of using plastic bags just to quickly dispose of them has been going on far t..." [read]

Jay Knecht said: "What are the performance stats for the Son of Max? ..." [read]

gazelle said: "@ Dallas: The book, and the supplementary videos in the "How It All Ends" youtube series, address this in detail, but I'll try to paraphrase:..." [read]

Barry said: "Kofi Annan has about as much of a clue about electric cars and developing countries as Ann Ann the Panda. He underestimates the ingenuity o..." [read]

JJ said: "Very cool. I didn't thought that biodesel might be our future fuel...." [read]

Derek said: ""I guarantee you this will spark huge debates around the world," she said. "We have to delve into this in a way that hasn't been done in a long tim..." [read]

New To Nau? Discount for Neophyte Eco-Clothing Customers

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.19.09
Travel & Nature

Nau winter line 2009 photo
Photo: Nau

' In any economic climate, it's natural to consider the price of the products we buy, and whether their value justifies their cost. We often receive comments regarding the prices for Nau products. One customer recently commented that, "The clothing is great and unique but the pricing is outrageous." ' So starts a discussion the outdoor-inspired, eco clothing company Nau, has on its website.

They continue, "We recognize, and regret, that for some customers our products will be too expensive. [...] That's because our prices don't reflect some arbitrary mark-up, but rather the true cost of making high-quality product."

It's an intriguing read about the True Cost of bringing a greener product to market. But what's equally as interesting is that Nau have offered new customers a special deal.

Article continues: New To Nau? Discount for Neophyte Eco-Clothing Customers

Bike Cargo: Chapter Three - 22 Extended Frame Bikes

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.17.09
Travel & Nature

Monark Long John cargo bike photo
Photo: WorkCycles Other photos via respective manufacturers.

Bike Cargos for All Tastes!
In our endeavours to take a snapshot of the world of Bicycle Cargo we have to date looked at the Racks And Bags used for bicycle cargo as well as the Bike Trailer. Now in Chapter Three, we take a gander at over 20 Extended Frame Bikes, as used for the hauling of people, product or produce. As per usual, leave a message in the comments panel to alert fellow readers to any glaring omissions we've made. Please note, our earlier round-up of Quads and Tricycles also captured quite a few human powered-vehicles used as bicycle transport. (In the next upcoming chapter, we'll showcase some of those businesses that rely on cargo bikes to get the job done.)

Article continues: Bike Cargo: Chapter Three - 22 Extended Frame Bikes

Patagonia's Yvon Chouinard: One of America's Best Leaders

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.12.09
Travel & Nature

[Image removed]

"Corporations are real weenies," he says. "They are scared to death of everything. My company exists, basically, to take those risks and prove that it's a good business." This is Yvon Chouinard, founder and CEO of Patagonia, the $ 270 million USD outdoor clothing talking to U.S. News who just included him in their 2009 list of America's 25 Best Leaders.

Yvon knows about risk. Both personal (climber, skier, white water paddler, surfer). And corporate. In 1972 Yvon told rockclimbers there was a more environmentally sound way to protect themselves on rock routes that didn't require bashing metal pitons in and out of the rock. At that time he was making his money selling pitons.

Article continues: Patagonia's Yvon Chouinard: One of America's Best Leaders

Outdoor Industry Looks to Improve Sustainability Standards

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.12.09
Travel & Nature

European Outdoor Group photo

"There is no business to be done on a dead planet." This was the view of renowned mountaineer turned environmentalist David Brower (Executive Director of the Sierra Club and founder of both Friends of the Earth and the Earth Island Institute.) It is also the view of outdoor clothing and equipment industry. You need seasons of consistent rain, snow and ice, if you want to make a living selling rain jackets, hire skis, or make crampons.

So key mover-and-shakers in outdoor adventure industry, on both side of the Atlantic, are pulling up their merino wool socks to ensure sustainability becomes as much a part of doing business as sales, service and salaries.

Article continues: Outdoor Industry Looks to Improve Sustainability Standards

Montane Puts the Squeeze on Recycled Outdoor Clothing

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11. 3.09
Travel & Nature

montane stuffsac apple photo
Photo: Montane

Montane may not be one of the iconic names of outdoor gear, having only been around for 16 years. But they are taking it to the big boys by offering part of their outdoor sport clothing line in eco materials. The garments shown below, for example, use recycled polyester in either shell fabrics or insulations. Yet British-based Montane are still able to offer their signature low weight and pack size, demonstrating that eco-textiles still offer performance characteristics.

Article continues: Montane Puts the Squeeze on Recycled Outdoor Clothing

Can Consumption Do Something Good for the Planet?

by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 10.29.09
Travel & Nature

Project Blue Ocean Logo Image
Image via: Be True to Blue

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It's easy to harp on the big guys for creating massive big-box stores that sell massive piles of cheap products that ultimately end up in landfills. But let's be honest, from time to time we're still going to need to buy stuff and like it or not, sometimes those items come from chain or department stores. Action sports items in particular wear out just by virtue of the activity they are used for. When I spoke with Vipe Desai, founder of project BLUE this time last year, project BLUE was just getting started and there were big hopes that encouraging people to choose better products could ultimately raise money for conservation. Turns out, it worked!

Article continues: Can Consumption Do Something Good for the Planet?

Sleep Like a Log in Vaude's Tencel Sleeping Bags

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.28.09
Travel & Nature

vaude blue beech tencel bag photo

Bed frames are made from trees, but sleeping bags? Why not, reckon Vaude, the German mountain sports company.

The insulation for a new range of Vaude sleeping bags due in 2010, will comprise 50% Tencel, a more benign form of nasty old viscose (aka Rayon), made from plantation tree pulp in a process that recycles most of the production solvents. Tencel is a relatively new fibre, having first appeared in 1987, and scoring its own textile category, known as Lyocell. Interest in the fibre waned for a while, but has been revived of late, with a whole raft of new fabrications coming to light.

Article continues: Sleep Like a Log in Vaude's Tencel Sleeping Bags

Fischer Produces Skis With 100% Renewable Energy

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.21.09
Travel & Nature

Fischer skis backcountry photo

We've had a few stories about smaller snowboard and backcountry ski companies heading off down a green path. I think this is the first time we've had a mainstream ski manufacturer on side. The Fischer Sports Group have just announced that the thermal energy for the production and heating of their plants which make Fischer Skis has gone 100% renewable.

Their Ried, Austria factory has been into this gig since 2001, but recently their other plant in Mukachevo, Ukraine, which has 950 folk pumping out 700,00 pairs of skis (alpine and nordic), also joined the initiative.

Article continues: Fischer Produces Skis With 100% Renewable Energy
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