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FCA has been testing a current design cylinder head cast with the new ACMZ high-strength, high-temperature aluminum alloy.

Engineering | July 02 2018

Strength under pressure: FCA creates new aluminum alloy for engines

The next time you shop for a new FCA vehicle, don’t be surprised if there’s a turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood. There won’t be any disappointment, though, as the turbo four matches some larger engines for power while also delivering improved fuel economy.

The change is underway at FCA: The all-new 2018 Jeep Wrangler and restyled 2019 Jeep Cherokee can be equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 270 hp.

Even so, FCA Powertrain engineers have their sights on delivering more efficiency without sacrificing performance. Getting there means more pressure (boost) and higher compression ratios. Doing that will generate more heat in the cylinder head, which sees some of the highest temperatures in an internal combustion engine.

A major challenge, though, is overcoming the strength and thermal limits of the aluminum alloys used today for cylinder heads. Those alloys, known as 319 and 356 grades, begin to severely weaken above 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit).

Now, a cooperative research effort between FCA, the federally funded Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and casting supplier Nemak has created a new aluminum alloy that stays strong up to 300 degrees Celsius (572 degrees Fahrenheit).

In addition to staying strong at higher temperatures, this new alloy can be cast and machined using existing technologies and costs only 7 percent more than today’s alloys – all key goals of the three-year, $3.5-million project sponsored by the federal government under a cooperative research and development agreement known as a CRADA.

This new alloy, known as 16HT or ACMZ, may enable engineers narrow the “bridge” areas in the cylinder head – the areas of metal between the valves, the spark plug and the direct fuel injector. Narrowing the bridges frees up room for larger valves or even a second spark plug, giving engineers the flexibility to tailor an engine for the desired balance of performance and efficiency.

The capabilities and potential uses for ACMZ earned it a spot on R&D Magazine’s widely respected R&D100 Awards in 2017.

Copper is the key

ACMZ has one key difference from today’s automotive aluminum alloys (alloys are a mixture of multiple metallic elements) – it does not use silicon as the strengthening component. Instead, ACMZ uses copper.

Aluminum alloys with copper are not new, explains Gregg Black, senior manager in Advanced Powertrain Engineering at FCA. However, they are expensive, produced in low volumes and haven’t been used in the auto industry due to a tendency for the part to develop small cracks during solidification after casting, an issue known as “hot tear.”

This is where Oak Ridge National Laboratory played an important role. Oak Ridge’s advanced probes let engineers understand down to the atomic level what happens with an alloy as it cools, inspecting the formation, size and location of strengthening elements called precipitates.

Oak Ridge also houses the Titan supercomputer – ranked as the third most-powerful supercomputer in the United States and seventh in the world.

Using a predictive development process known as integrated computational material engineering (ICME), the Titan supercomputer enabled the CRADA team to virtually create 50 never-before proposed aluminum-copper recipes then simulate the cooling and performance properties. It helped the team narrow the field to seven high-potential alloys within 24 months.

“The Titan and ICME let the team focus only on truly promising candidates instead of spending time on trial and error,” Black says. “It’s like Star Wars stuff for us, creating new alloys in the computer without having to pour it.”

Work gives FCA a head start

FCA and its partners have applied for four patents on the new alloy. Because it was developed with government sponsorship, other companies will have the opportunity to use the new material when it becomes commercially available. But being on the ground floor of development gives FCA a head start, Black notes.

Other automakers tackled the aluminum alloy high temperature issue at the same time as FCA, picking their own partners and establishing CRADAs with the government. Those efforts did not use copper as the strengthening agent.

“When we focused on copper, other people in the industry almost laughed us off, saying we’d never be able to cast that,” Black says. “We knew there was competition, including other teams working at Oak Ridge National Labs, but we outperformed everyone on this.”

It will still be a few years before ACMZ appears in a production engine. But FCA and Nemak have already cast more than 100 cylinder heads with the alloy, using a current production design, and have put several hundred hours of dynamometer testing on some prototypes.

Also, castings made with ACMZ have been machined on the same equipment used for current production cylinder heads to prove that the new alloy is compatible with today’s manufacturing technology. The only likely change in the manufacturing process for ACMZ involves refining the heat-treatment ovens used after the part is cast, Black says.

FCA powertrain engineers still have plenty of development work to do with ACMZ, documenting its design and performance capabilities to share with engine development teams. The knowledge gained creating ACMZ can also be helpful as engineers look for better-performing materials for other powertrain components.

“We just getting started on the process to create a design now that we have a material that will work,” Black says. “We feel like we really have a tiger by the tail.”

Dale Jewett

Do you know your blood type? Mine is 100 octane (not your standard blood bank classification). At any given moment, I’m thinking about cars – driving one, fixing one, buying one or (in my dreams) restoring one. So I love to tell stories that involve horsepower, brake and wheel diameters
Read More
Do you know your blood type? Mine is 100 octane (not your standard blood bank classification). At any given moment, I’m thinking about cars – driving one, fixing one, buying one or (in my dreams) restoring one. So I love to tell stories that involve horsepower, brake and wheel diameters and 0-to-60 times – and the people who make it happen. Because behind every awesome vehicle are amazing people with vision and the desire to make it a reality. I cover Mopar, Dodge, SRT and motorsports for Stellantis Digital Media. I learned to drive on a 1973 Jeep CJ-5 with the rare Super Jeep option package and three-speed manual transmission. I still belong to the dwindling club of people who prefer to shift their own gears, and think the best way to drive is with the top down!


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Day: October 2, 2019

I wrote a whisky book !

You’ve probably seen the news on social media already, but here it is : I wrote a whisky book and it’s going out TODAY ! #ImSoExcitedAndIJustCantHideIt Since the announce, I’ve received a lot of questions so I thought I would Read More

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Greta Thunberg and the Power of Words

This post was written by Faith Vasko ’20

Greta Thunberg. The face of climate resilience. Notice how I didn’t say change? Because that’s what Greta is trying to stop. Change means an ending, resilience is the ability to recover. Words are important. Greta recently released a preview for the film Nature Now in coalition with several climate organizations, such as Conservation International, exposing the solution to climate breakdown. The proposed solution from the Queen of climate resilience? Trees.

Photo by Santtu Perkiö on Unsplash

Her partner in the film, writer and climate activist George Monbiot, further elaborated that trees are “natural climate solutions,” saying, “nature is a tool we can use to repair our broken climate.” This type of language, framing nature as a “tool,” has been an influential concept in my time as a MBA candidate in The Sustainable Innovation MBA program. In our first week of classes, Taylor Ricketts, the Director of the Gund Institute at the University of Vermont, presented on Ecosystem Services.

Through the business lens, the concept of value is important. The value of ecosystem services is that they provide benefits to society. There are several ways in which to classify these services as well as how they can be applied. In framing ecosystem services as valuable natural capital for business opportunities, ecosystems and biodiversity is then quantified. This allows ecological economies to be emphasized.

This ideology, similar to biomimicry — in looking to how mimic natural processes in design and production — was new territory to me just like the University of Vermont this past August. Taking these concepts I learned in class, with the access to the campus experience, I was able to further my curiosity by beginning work under a Gund Faculty Fellow and Doctoral Candidate researching the non-material relationships and benefits from cultural ecosystem services in the face of scientific uncertainty.

I am grateful and excited by the expansion of opportunities learning fosters and the rabbit holes they can lead you to. Greta has exemplified this notion of expansion in spreading the message of climate activism. Nature is a tool, and with the right language applied —such as ecosystem services and ecological economies— its value can be communicated to transform and create sustainable business ventures while supporting the environment.

Getting to Know Our Faculty: Rick G. Vanden Bergh

Dr. Vanden Bergh came to UVM in the fall of 2000 after graduating from the University of California at Berkeley with a Ph.D. in Business and Public Policy and an MBA. Prior to academia, he worked in banking in Colorado, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Dr. Vanden Bergh’s areas of research include: firm strategy in the political environment and the effects of political institutions on business investment. For the past several years Dr. Vanden Bergh has been exploring issues in the energy sector including an exploration of how the political environment affects investment in renewable energy. Dr. Vanden Bergh was instrumental in designing the new Sustainable Innovation MBA curriculum. He teaches two courses for the Sustainable Innovation MBA program including a course on Business Sustainability & Public Policy.

What do you enjoy about teaching in The Sustainable Innovation MBA program?

The diversity of backgrounds of the students really contributes to engaging conversations in class.

What surprises you the most about the students?

Each year, I am surprised again by the student’s level of passion for solving super challenging problems. I think this level passion helps students to manage the intensity of the SI-MBA program and to maintain energy throughout the year.

While there’s a great deal to learn in your course, what’s the single biggest idea or concept you hope students take away to use in their business careers?

Think deeply about choices. Important business and/or public policy decisions involve both benefits and costs, and to fully understand these requires careful analysis.

What’s your media diet like lately? What are you reading, listening to, streaming, or watching?

I just finished reading Becoming Nicole by Amy Nutt and am reading two other books, Deep Work by Cal Newport and The Third Pillar by Raghuram Rajan. These days, two of my favorite podcasts are “Stay Tuned” with Preet Bharara and “After Hours” with Youngme Moon, Mihir Desai and Felix Oberholzer-Gee.

What do you do for fun when you’re not in the classroom?

When the snow flies, I ski (nordic and alpine) and snow shoe. Other times of the year, I like hiking, mountain biking and gravel-road biking. For passive viewing entertainment, I love to watch premier league and champions league soccer.

Anything else?

Be humble about your views/opinions and be open to hearing and understanding alternative perspectives. I find my own thinking is not well developed unless I can explain the argument of a person with a different perspective.

Getting to Know the Class of 2020: Dan Versace

Dan is a native of the small fishing town of Scituate, Massachusetts where his passion for the natural world began.  Dan graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2017 with a degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Politics. During his time there, he founded the Saint Anselm Environmentalists Club. He also started a divestment campaign with the goal of fully divesting the schools endowment from fossil fuels, a battle that he is still fighting today. Upon graduation Dan moved to rural Tennessee where he worked in the National Parks to research and mediate the invasive plant populations that are taking over hundreds of square miles in the south. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn.

Why did you choose to attend The Sustainable Innovation MBA program?

For me, this program is the perfect cross-section of business and environmentalism. As someone who came out of undergrad with a degree in environmental science and no formal business experience, this program allows me to leverage my prior knowledge of the problems facing our world into creative solutions that utilize the world of business. Not to mention the faculty here is comprised of some of the most influential people in the field of sustainable business which made the decision to apply and attend easy.

What has been your favorite part/element of the program?

Personally, my favorite element of the program is the people who comprise it. All of the students in my cohort are supportive and genuinely great people. Having the opportunity to discuss issues with intelligent and like-minded people is invaluable. Not to mention, the professors are all extremely supportive and really want everyone to succeed.

What are three things someone considering the program should be aware of?

1. When they say this program is intense, they’re not lying, but it is all manageable and the people around you always have your back and are there to help.
2. If you’re someone like me who had no previous business education, this program will supply you with the skills you need to understand and internalize all of the “hard business” aspects while also offering unique, disruptive skills that are so uncommon in other MBA programs.
3. Vermont is incredibly beautiful at all times of year, but the winters can be a little dark and snowy. Pack your skis and get ready for a fun winter.

How has The Sustainable Innovation MBA benefitted you so far?

This program has opened my eyes to opportunities that I had never thought of before.

What business, sector, or issue would you like to have an impact on after the program?

I would like to have an impact on the beer brewing industry, as a consultant to larger firms or by starting my own brewery here in Vermont.

Anything else?

This is an amazing program that I think anybody who has any interest in creating impact change on the world should definitely check out!

Getting to Know the Class of 2020: Taran Catania

Prior to coming to The Sustainable Innovation MBA, Taran had been in Washington, D.C. working as a legislative representative for national conservation organizations and later as an environmental staffer in the U.S. Senate. Taran also served two years on the executive board of DC EcoWomen, a nonprofit connecting and empowering women for environmental leadership in the nation’s capital. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Why did you choose to attend The Sustainable Innovation MBA program?

Coming from the environmental policy world of Washington, D.C., I wanted to use a business degree to find a different way to take on the world’s most pressing environmental challenges that better utilized my strengths. What sold me on The Sustainable Innovation MBA was knowing I did not have to settle for a traditional MBA with one environmental or social justice course relegated to the end of the program. I knew I wanted to break the mold in the work I was doing, and that I wanted to learn conventional skills but apply them in unconventional ways. When I learned that this is what this program is doing, itself, in the breaking the mold of what an MBA has always been, something simply clicked for me.

What has been your favorite part/element of the program?

It was my mom who advised me to think twice before going to an MBA with a demoralizingly cutthroat culture in which, when your calculator died during an exam, the student next to you would merely smirk and turn away. I took this advice and evidently ran with it: at The Sustainable Innovation MBA, we embrace and support each other as classmates. Not only do we pump each other up for tests, collaborate on study guides and flashcards, and share pencils when the occasional Scantron bubble answer sheet appears… but I’ll admit that just a few weeks ago when I forgot my calculator during a finance quiz, Chuck (our finance professor and academic director) lent me his.

What are three things someone considering the program should be aware of?

1. You will be drinking through a fire hose. The program moves fast, and you have to move fast with it. There will not be a lot of time to stop and absorb — instead, you have to absorb on the go. This pace might not be for everyone, but if you manage your time well and remember to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, you’ll do just fine.

2. Your classmates will be some of the best people you have ever met, and they will be a key part of why you feel so at home in this program. The diversity of backgrounds brings significant value into the classroom, and you’ll find you learn just as much from your classmates as you do your professors.

3. Perhaps most importantly, be ready to dive into your own vulnerability. Part of the beauty of The Sustainable Innovation MBA is that this program forces you to really look at yourself, examine what is particular about you and how you see the world, and how all of those things show up and shape how you’re a teammate or a leader. If you’re not ready for or at least open to this level of self-awareness and self-management, the program will be a struggle for you.

How has The Sustainable Innovation MBA benefitted you so far?

Although some of the concepts are intuitive, the business vocabulary and frameworks we learn are immensely helpful — whether analyzing an entire industry in Business Strategy for a Sustainable World to segmenting a market and deciding on a target audience for a product launch in Sustainable Brand Marketing.

What business, sector, or issue would you like to have an impact on after the program?

I hear this story repeated often: good people that are drawn to meaningful, cause-driven work (who are willing to take a pay cut and still give 110%) end up leaving these progressive movements because of poor management or disingenuous leadership. I am lucky enough to have had both challenging boss experiences and extremely empowering boss experiences. I tried to remember these lessons when I became a boss myself: to be authentic, to embrace vulnerability, and to empower my team to take risks even if it means inevitable, occasional failure. While I’m still figuring out exactly how I want to bring this into the next step of my career, I know what a powerful impact a positive leadership experience can have on employee retention. Especially for these environmentally-driven causes that simply cannot afford to lose good, mission-driven, hard-working people, I want to be a part of the solution.

Anything else?

I cannot say enough good things about the competitive broomball team we formed at the beginning of the year through UVM intramural sports. It was often the highlight of my week, and provided me with (a) a chance to get to know my classmates outside of the classroom, and (b) an opportunity to wear my sloth onesie costume as our goalie. Although we finished #2 in the final playoff standings, I’d like to think we were #1 in everyone’s hearts.

Getting to Know Our Faculty: Dita Sharma

Dr. Pramodita (Dita) Sharma, Ph.D. (University of Calgary) is the Sanders Chair & Professor of Family Business at the Grossman School of Business, University of Vermont. She holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Witten/Herdecke in Germany. Her research on succession processes, governance, innovation, next generation commitment and entrepreneurial leadership in sustainable family enterprises has been honored with several international awards. Editor of the highly ranked Family Business Review, she is amongst the most frequently cited scholars in family business studies. She teaches Entrepreneurial Family Business in the MBA program.

What do you enjoy about teaching in The Sustainable Innovation MBA program?

The passion of students to launch and work in a mission-focused company, making our world a better place to live in.

What surprises you the most about the students?

Because of the nature of student who gets attracted to this program, their responses to family business dilemmas are uniquely different from what I hear from other students at UVM or beyond.

While there’s a great deal to learn in your course, what’s the single biggest idea or concept you hope students take away to use in their business careers?

What’s my “A” (assumption)? Everything we write, say or think has at least one underlying assumption. Making it a habit to ask and answer this question, shortens the pathway to have an impact in life and career.

For any organization, look for its founding mission, evolution, and who controls the ownership — management/governance now (that is, in whose hands is the remote control). That clarity can help to connect with them as humans and having an influence without authority.

What’s your media diet like lately? What are you reading, listening to, streaming, or watching?

The Origin of Species.

What do you do for fun when you’re not in the classroom?

Walk, hike, yoga.

The Value of Soft Skills in an Increasingly Automated Workforce

This post was written by Kate Barry ’20. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

How do you stay competitive in a job market that is becoming increasingly more automated? This is a question on many people’s minds in all areas of the workforce today. Tiger Tyagarjan attempts to answer this daunting question in his article from the Harvard Business Review, “To Prepare for Automation, Stay Curious and Don’t Stop Learning.”  Tyagarajan cites a number of possibilities for workers to stay ahead of the curve when faced with an increasing automated workforce, a concept we have talked about in depth in our Sustainable Brand Marketing class this module.

When first faced with the uncertainty of job security in the future, one may have a knee-jerk reaction to fight against the development of artificial intelligence, or maybe try to out-smart it, by developing more highly-technical skills. Both of these options, I believe, will eventually be losing battles as technological advancement will roar on whether or not we are fully ready for it. Perhaps, as Tyagarjan suggests in his piece, instead of fighting the advancement of artificial intelligence, humans can differentiate themselves by embracing their “humanness” through the development of soft skills.

Soft skills are the tools someone uses to interact with others in an effective manner, a concept entirely dependent on self-awareness. They include one’s emotional intelligence, their level of empathy, ability to work in a team, etc. These are the skills that will differentiate humans from artificial intelligence in the workforce moving forward.

Thus far in The Sustainable Innovation MBA program, there has been a large emphasis on the development of soft-skills between our Teamwork for Sustained Innovation class, The Leadership Seminar, and copious amounts of group work. Some of the hesitation in regard to entering into a non-traditional MBA is the larger mix of skills learned beyond the traditional aspects of a business education.  While I have gained a great deal of value and personal development through our work so far, it’s hard to know what the business world is looking for when hiring. It is reassuring to see that the business community values the importance of soft skills, and their many applications in the workplace.

So, how do you stay competitive in a job market that is constantly becoming more automated? Lean into your humanness, strengthen your self and other-awareness, and in the words of Joe Fusco, “have a love affair with the truth.”

Photo by Owen Beard on Unsplash

Getting to Know the Class of 2020: Jared Alvord

Jared graduated from the University of Vermont in 2010 with a degree in Environmental Studies. He has been in the solar industry since then, working on projects ranging from residential to utility scale. In 2017, Jared founded Mad River Solar, a small utility scale solar and battery storage development company. Jared lives in the Mad River Valley of Vermont with his wife Emma, and dog Maggie. He is an officer on the local volunteer fire department, and a member of the towns Development Review Board. Jared is an avid outdoorsman, and loves to hike, ski, fish and hunt. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Why did you choose to attend The Sustainable Innovation MBA program?

The Sustainable Innovation MBA fit directly into my vision for the type of business leader I wanted to be. I needed a program that would teach me the invaluable MBA skills needed to scale my solar business, while bringing along with it an innovative new way of thinking about the future of business.

What has been your favorite part/element of the program?

The program is tailored to bring you the skills of tomorrow, while giving you the base that every business leader needs to succeed.

What are three things someone considering the program should be aware of?

1) The program is intense being focused into one year, so plan for this. 2) While the program brings you innovative and disruptive skills surrounding sustainability, you still gain those base MBA skills needed to succeed. 3) Burlington, Vermont is cold and snowy in the winter, so bring your skis!

How has The Sustainable Innovation MBA benefitted you so far?

I have already taken some of the skills learned in the program back to the solar company that I own. This program has direct real world value.

What business, sector, or issue would you like to have an impact on after the program?

The energy industry through the deployment of renewable energy.

Anything else?

One of the best parts of the program is the diverse and ambitious class. Our class has become very close friends in a short period of time.

Sustainable Innovation MBA Students Strike for Climate Change

This post was written by Jackson Berman ‘20

On Friday, September 20, 2019, MBA students from UVM’s Sustainable Innovation MBA Class of 2020 joined forces with youth activists, students, and workers around the world to demand a just future free from fossil fuels. These global strikes are happening before the UN Climate Action Summit next week – our goal is to put pressure not just on politicians, but people from all generations. Climate change is a moral issue, it’s happening now, and we have an opportunity to take action.

Students from the Class of 2020 at the Burlington, VT Climate Strike on September 20, 2019.

Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon will all be participating in strikes across the country. Locally in Burlington, SI-MBA students followed in the footsteps of Burton Snowboards, Ben & Jerry’s, Seventh Generation, and environmentally focused non-profits such as 350 Burlington, VPIRG, Climate Disobedience Center, and Sunrise Movement.

Students from the Class of 2020 at the Burlington, VT Climate Strike on September 20, 2019.

We as the Sustainable-Innovation MBA Class of 2020 have also teamed up with some inspiring alumni to march for climate justice! I talked with Brodie O’Brien ’14 and now Digital Marketing Manager at Ben & Jerry’s.

“Here at Ben & Jerry’s, we see our opportunity as providing people with an onramp first-step into engaging in large-scale issues that may feel insurmountable. Climate change is a big, scary topic that’s too big for one person to address alone: we think that the power of collective action can change the system. That’s why we’re here at the Burlington Climate Strike scooping today – we want to celebrate our fans who are already involved with Climate Action, and provide a fun way for new people to get excited about creating real collective positive change.” Brodie also noted that “we use our digital channels to raise awareness of movements amongst fans, it goes beyond just showing up physically at events.”

Brodie O’Brien ’15 (right), Digital Marketing Manager at Ben & Jerry’s

Climate change is truly a world crisis: we have an obligation to create sustainable business solutions that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

An Innovation Story? Bear With Us…

We found this story of a beekeeper and his wonderful attitude toward turning a big problem into an innovation — and a business advantage — just delightful. How can you think differently about problems, and opportunities, as foundations of innovation?

Beekeeper turns honey stealing bears into taste testers

Beekeeper Ibrahim Sedef

Insight: Albert Kittell ’20

EDITOR’S NOTE: As part of Orientation Week, the Class of 2020 visited iconic, mission-driven companies here in Vermont for conversations about sustainability, innovation, and Business 2.0 with executives. We asked Albert Kittell ’20 about his take-away from a visit to Ben & Jerry’s headquarters.

Albert Kittell ’20

“After visiting Ben & Jerry’s South Burlington offices it became very clear to me, a native Burlingtonian, that the scope of the company’s influence was much greater than I realized. Ben & Jerry’s, since middle of the 1980s, have put in place innovative and lasting initiatives that often were the first, or among the first, in the world.  These included “Shared Prosperity,” social, and economic equality, and environmental issues. If an ice cream company can do all of that, then any business headed by similar type thinkers can help strike change in industry.”


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Face the wider world by embracing the wilder world. The great outdoors helps children feel they can tackle anything in life.

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Using a Property as a Constant

Wikipedia says:

In computer programming, a constant is a value that cannot be altered by the program during normal execution, i.e., the value is constant.

In Xojo we have constants that can be defined in code or added to modules, classes, etc. What you’ll notice about Wikipedia’s definition of “constant” is that it’s a behavior, not a specific type.

There is another way to define a “constant” or “a value that doesn’t change throughout the run of your application”.

A computed property with only the Get method defined that returns the same value every time is also “constant” in that it won’t vary as your program runs. It just happens to be labelled as a “property” and is also referred to as a “read-only” property. But the reality is if you set up a computed property that returns the same value every time you essentially have a “computed constant”.

Consider using one the next time you need something like a String or Text that is a series of Unicode code points since you can’t define one in the Property or Constant Editors without a bit of work (i.e. you can’t just type in &u21BE or a bunch of unicode code points one after the other).

If there are other values that you need to compute at runtime but remain consistent throughout a run of your application this is a decent way to make that happen.

There are some downsides because this is not a constant as far as the language is concerned. You cannot use it in these ways:

  • as a compile time check using #if
  • as part of another constant expression
  • as a default parameter value
  • as a default property value
  • as a declare library name

There may be other situations as well.

If you truly need an actual constant type, the alternative is to go to and copy and paste the symbols into the Constant Editor. This is a little more work but lets you define a true constant that is a bunch of Unicode code points.


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Economic Incentives for Affordable And Sustainable Development

How do we create more jobs?  How do we ensure that housing is affordable?  What can we do to reduce traffic congestion and pollution?  These are important questions facing our communities.  And sometimes, the answer to one question seems to reduce our ability to answer the others.  One reason for this is that we sometimes overlook key economic obstacles.

For example, many cities spend a lot of effort determining which business sectors or ventures are “on the rise,” and then provide subsidies to lure these businesses to locate there.  Few if any economic development experts have consistent and reliable success in predicting which business endeavors will succeed in the long term.  And regardless of our confidence in the success of a business sector, we have even less success predicting which individual businesses will succeed in it.  Therefore, rather than trying to predict the market and provide special tax breaks to a few businesses (be they new or existing), cities would be better off removing existing barriers to productive investments.  Then cities can let the market decide which businesses will succeed, confident that their regulatory and tax systems will not impede whichever businesses have an opportunity to grow.

One of the impediments to affordable and sustainable development is the property tax.  When property owners improve their property (providing housing or jobs), property taxes rise.  However, when owners allow existing buildings to deteriorate, property taxes fall.  These economic incentives are upside-down.

Now a typical property tax is only 1% or 2% of value – so this does not seem like much.  However, unlike a sales tax (which is paid only once), the property tax on building values is paid each and every year that an improvement adds value to a property.  A net present value calculation shows that this stream of tax payments can have the economic impact of a sales tax of between 10% and 20% on construction labor and materials.  That’s a significant cost barrier to property construction, improvement and maintenance.

The tax on building values is a cost of production.  (No building, no tax.)  As we know from fundamental economic theory, increasing the cost of production reduces the quantity and quality of what is produced – and this diminished supply results in higher prices for what’s left.  Little wonder that many developers refuse to embark on major projects unless they first obtain some property tax exemption or abatement.

Fortunately, some jurisdictions have made real progress in this direction — leading to job growth, more affordable housing and more sustainable economic development. They accomplish this by reducing the property tax rate applied to building values while increasing the tax rate applied to land values.

But won’t the higher taxes on land values undermine the benefits of lower taxes on buildings?  No.  Unlike buildings, land is not produced.  Therefore, the tax on land value is not a cost of production.  Most importantly, there will be just as much land after a land tax is imposed as there was before.  Thus consumers will not bid up the price of land due to reduced supply.  Because the price of land is based upon expectations of the benefits of land ownership and because a land tax reduces the benefits of land ownership, taxes on land value tend to reduce the price of land.

Thus, reducing the tax on building values makes buildings cheaper to construct, improve and maintain, while increasing the tax on land values makes land more affordable as well.

There’s even an aspect of this reform that helps reduce sprawl.  Property owners do not determine the value of their land.  (This is determined largely by the community, its vitality, and the proximity of particular sites to public goods and services:  “Location, location, location.”)  Also, owners cannot move their sites to other, lower-tax jurisdictions.  Thus, unlike the tax on buildings (which can be avoided by avoiding building investments or by allowing existing buildings to deteriorate), the tax on land values cannot be avoided:

So landowners are compelled to pay the tax on land values.  Where land values are high (near existing urban amenities like job centers, transit stations, etc.), land taxes will be high and this will compel owners to develop those sites (or sell to someone who will do so).  And these high-value infill sites are generally where we want development to occur in order to reduce sprawl.

As mentioned earlier, land values in an urban setting largely represent access to public goods and services.  Thus, to the extent that public infrastructure (roads, water & sewer, police & fire protection, schools, etc.) creates land value, landowners will pay a land tax in proportion to the public benefits that they receive.  This makes a land value tax more like a “user fee,” making it both comprehensible and equitable.   Essentially, jurisdictions that implement this reform use value capture to transform their property tax into a public services user fee — while giving all property owners a “universal abatement” on productive investments.

Jurisdictions that implement this reform can collect the same property tax revenue as they did before — but the incentives are more favorable for building construction, improvement and maintenance.  If properly designed and implemented, this system creates economic incentives for infill development, which makes better use of existing infrastructure, enhances transportation options and avoids premature development of rural areas that are needed for agricultural, recreation and conservation uses.

For more information, see “Using Value Capture to Finance Infrastructure and Encourage Compact Development.”  This article can be found at

Additional information can be obtained from

Guest post by Zintro user Rick Rybeck

Zintro, Inc

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Ever since the pandemic hit, more people have ditched their full-time jobs to work from home. But after a point, even WFH-ing becomes boring, right? And that’s why becoming a digital nomad could be a great step forward.

A digital nomad is any traveler who earns from the internet. Between 2018 to 2020, the digital nomad population in the US doubled up. And as the pandemic made people realize that work is not restricted to their offices, they’re choosing to make the most out of it! Want in? This blog will tell you how to become a digital nomad with some extra special tips and advice!

Related: How Do You Convince Your Boss to Let You Work Remotely?

Why Becoming a Digital Nomad is so Thrilling in 2022

Once upon a time, it was a fantasy to get to work and travel. With the modern internet facilities available today, living remotely is practical and fun. Becoming a digital nomad is super exciting but it also comes with its own challenges. Still on the fence? Here are some of the top reasons why becoming a digital nomad in 2022 could be an amazing move for you:

  1. There’s something new to explore every day! The chance to visit new places and try new things means no two days are ever the same.
  2. You will meet new people and also develop unique skills. You may even make lifelong connections and have some unforgettable experiences.
  3. As you explore the world and new people, you will grow as a person, become more adaptable, and adopt a positive view of the world in general.

Feeling pumped up? Now, let’s look at how you can achieve an amazing lifestyle as a digital nomad in 2022!

How to Become a Digital Nomad in 4 Steps

Let’s make it clear that there is no one roadmap to a successful digital nomad lifestyle. Becoming a digital nomad is a unique journey for everyone. Your personal skills and the country you move to will shape your route into this life. To help, here are 4 key steps to help you achieve a more comfortable journey towards your digital nomad lifestyle.

1. Join a community of digital nomads

Living in the era of Instagram and Facebook, you’ve probably already got some digital nomads in your network. The first step is to follow their YouTube channels and start making notes!

You can also find digital nomad communities on Facebook groups and Reddit. Join pages and groups that are specific to your preferred locations. This will give you some practical tips and advice to use in your journey. Online communities will really help in finding specific information- like where to live on a budget and where to find healthy, cheap food.

Related: Travel Books That Take A Virtual Journey Through United States

2. Get a location-independent job

Unless your boss allows you to work remotely, it’s time to find a new job! Working as a digital nomad, you will rely completely on the internet. With no fixed location or hours, you must develop the skill of self-discipline to stick to work. Having said that, you must find a job that won’t restrict you to one place. Here are some tips and ideas to help you start:

  • Identify your skills – Whether you’re a recent graduate or a working professional, working remotely while traveling can be so liberating. So, figure out the top skills that you can monetize online while becoming a digital nomad. Writing, planning, teaching, or managing – anything can come in handy. You can be a content creator, a virtual assistant, an online teacher, and so much more!
  • Start freelancing – A lot of work can be done as a freelancer. Whether you are a graphic designer, a photographer, or a content writer, freelancing is one of the best ways to earn online. Create your profile on freelance websites like Upwork or Fiverr. Building a good portfolio will help you get better-paying clients. That means more money to do cool things as you travel!
  • Create an independent business – If you love the thought of being your own boss, why not start your own online business? From e-commerce brands to content agencies, almost everything can be managed online. You could hire freelancers online from all over the world and scale up your business too.

Related: 6 Must-Have Skills For Individuals Seeking Remote Jobs In 2021

3. Plan the logistics of your nomadic lifestyle

Living remotely and working on your own hours all sounds great. But with so much flexibility, there are always chances for things to go wrong. Planning the logistics of a nomadic lifestyle can involve a variety of things:

  • Banking, taxes, and finances– When becoming a digital nomad, you must keep a tab on your finances and banking methods. Choose a good credit card company that can help you no matter where you are. When you are paying taxes and traveling between nations, you may have to hire a good accountant to avoid blunders.

Related: How to Manage Financial Risks as a Young Entrepreneur

  • Wifi, VPN, and mobile facilities– If you are working remotely while traveling, fast internet is a must. Whether you choose to live in an Airbnb in a remote area or visit a popular cafe, the wifi should be a primary concern. Get a good VPN provider so that you can access different networks irrespective of your actual location. Virtual mobile numbers are also very useful to stay connected.
  • Emergency backups and insurance– When you are visiting new places, you cannot ignore that things can go wrong once in a while. Travel insurance is very handy (and usually mandatory) when you’re traveling abroad. Get good health insurance that offers good security as a digital nomad. Do set up an emergency fund that can help you in any type of crisis, too.
  • Getting around and finding accommodation– Finally, research the places that you are moving to. Look up all the details about transportation networks and good accommodation. As a digital nomad, you will mainly rely on the public transportation system or rented vehicle companies. Wherever you choose to live, it should ideally be well-connected and include the amenities you need to live comfortably.

⭐ Having apps like Roomi can be a great way to find affordable housing solutions around the world. Whether you want to rent a new place or live with roommates, find some of the best options with Roomi.

Related: 10 Important Factors For An Ideal Roommate

4. Pick your first destination and go!

When becoming a digital nomad, you must be careful about picking your locations. Don’t just close your eyes and point to a map! Whether you want to stay in your country or go to some exotic location, think realistically.

Start by making a list of all the locations that you want to visit. Find out the cost of living, transportation, and accommodation options. Don’t forget to make a note of the climate and seasons. If everything fits your plan and budget, go ahead and book your tickets before you change your mind!

Begin your Digital Nomad Life with the Right Resources!

Becoming a digital nomad is all about being resourceful. As challenging as it is, you will come across some rewarding experiences that will be worth the effort.

Talking about getting the right resources, Roomi is a handy platform that can help you find the best co-living solutions. As a digital nomad, you can choose to live with people to save expenses. Roomi is a safe and secure platform where you can connect with people and find accommodation in multiple cities and countries. Explore it now to find your next home!

Roomi is your one-stop option to list or find rooms, find roommates to settle into a new city easily. Download the app and sign up today!


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Top 10 Diy Macrame Plant Hanger Of 2022: Best Reviews

Expert reviews and purchasing guides evaluate over 10 product different items to determine the right Diy macrame plant hanger for your requirements. With more than 1,147 reviews from consumers and all products selected from major brands as Apipi, Rqwzbchx, Froocy, Nghtmrkt, Aesthetic creative, Leczivoen, Wowoss, Uhapeer, Tephran. This blog article will present a summary of some of the most popular options as well as what they help you in your life, so you can make an informed selection before purchasing.

Review: Top 10 Diy macrame plant hanger

John Grisham By, John Grisham
  • Crafting Is The New Yoga; In today's world who isn't stressed; Like knitting or adult coloring books macrame & knotting is a form of mindful meditation that can help to unwind and zen out. Wood rings for macrame, macrame tools, diy wall hanging
  • Easy To Follow Videos; Nervous about learning to macarame the NGHTMRKT macrame starter kit comes with access to full instructional videos so you can follow along online at your own pace. Macreme, namacray, maccrame the diy craft kits for adults
  • Easy Macrame Cord Kit For Beginners; If you can tie a knot you can macramé; 40 page illustrated instructional booklet teaches basic knots and includes 3 different macrame plant hanger patterns. Better than macrame board and pins dowel hanging kit
  • HOME DECOR: Enhance any room with handmade bohemian decor. We include everything you will need to create not 1 but 3 hanging macrame plant holders.
  • CUSTOM COLORS: Our 4mm single strand macrame string has dense fibers and velvet soft. Each kit includes 3 colors, 20m rolls.
  • GIFT IDEA: Gift a loved one with mindfulness and accomplishment with this macrame plant hanger kits for adults. Complete with eye pleasing packaging, anyone would love to receive this thoughtful gift.
  • ★ MULTIPLE USES : This craft for adult can be designed at will! Plant Hangers, Wall Hangings, Knitting, Tapestries, DIY Bohemian Lace Crafts and all kinds of Home Decoration. Perfect knitting kits for beginners adults.
  • ★ MACRAME STARTER KIT: DIY craft macrame kit includes 1 roll 3mm x 100m natural cotton cord, 60 Pcs wooden beads,15 Pcs wooden rings with 3 different sizes, 4 Pcs wooden sticks and 2Pcs S hooks and instruction book with videos tutorial. Yes, it includes every thing you need to make your macrame plant hanger or macrame wall hanging kit.
  • ★ 100% NATURAL MATERIAL: Macrame cotton cord is 100% natural cotton, no chemical or bleached is used. The wooden ring and macrame beads are 100% non-toxic (no oil or wax) and environmentally friendly. This diy kit perfect to be used with beads and macrame rings to make your own tapestry and home decoration.
  • 【Macrame Rope Size】109 yards length x 3mm diameter, meet you daily use.
  • 【Macrame Starter Kit】Package includes 1 roll 109 yard natural cotton macrame rope, 6pcs wooden sticks (15cm and 20cm each of 3pcs), 2pcs 7cm wooden rings, 4pcs 5cm wooden rings and 100pcs 5mm holes painted wood beads, great for macrame and knotting beginners.
  • 【Fully Equipped】Not only lace ropes, but also other decorative accessories to make your handmade crafts more unique, suitable for weaving beginners and weaving enthusiasts.
  • ★ EASY TO WORK WITH: Compared with braided cord, macrame cord is softer but strong enough to hold itself well. 4 strands twisted give cotton cord flexibility and strength, making it easier to undo knots and help for consistency throughout projects.

  • ★ SIZE & PACKAGE: Macrame cotton string is 4mm diameter, the length is around 109 yards(100m) for each roll. 4 strand twisted cotton cord is sealed by plastic to keep it in stable and beautiful shape when shipped, easy to organize, prevent to mess when unraveled to use.

  • ★ 100% NATURAL COTTON & ECO-FRIENDLY: Great cords starts with great material cotton yarn. Our craft cord made of 100% natural and unbleached cotton, is biodegradable, odor-free and free of chemical dyes. Great basis for all your decor or craft projects.

  • Natural colours and material: Macrame cotton cord is pure natural cotton, no bleach or chemicals are used. It has a cream white colour under natural light and contains a natural wooden craft ring and wooden beads. To make it colourful, we also have dark green and brick red natural cotton rope.
  • Handmade Boho decor kit: It will be a handmade creation that fits really well with boho interiors or neutral decoration. The wall decorations fit well into any room, including living room, bedroom, bathroom and children's room. The plant hanger will have a boho atmosphere or a farmhouse decoration feel anywhere indoors or outdoors.
  • Perfect thoughtful gifts: this is the perfect gift for anyone who likes home decor, handicrafts, plants, DIY and crafts.
  • ✅ IMAGINE AN ALL IN ONE DIY MACRAME KIT - Our 227pc macrame kit for beginners includes everything needed in a DIY macrame wall hanging kit. We are proud to offer the most all inclusive and premium quality starter macrame kits for adults on Amazon!
  • ✅ MORE FOR YOU - Included in our macrame starter kit is 675 total feet of 3mm cotton cord, that's 2X the rope found in other sets! We also offer exclusive macrame accessories to create any adult diy craft making projects you can imagine.
  • ✅ THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED - Our macrame supplies kit includes 675ft/225yd of thick macrame cord 3mm, 200 large colored macrame beads, 16 mixed wooden rings, 4 wood macrame dowel sticks, 2 s hook pot planter hangers, string keychain clasp, measuring tape, scissors, and digital content!

Are you looking for a buying guide? Try This Fun guide

Do not worry. This blog post will not be a long and boring read. It takes no more than 5 minutes to be up and running with the information you want. That's why we've created this simple guide for those looking for their own buying guide!

Here are links to some of our favorite sites with all the information and photos to help us answer any questions or concerns you may have about buying products under $1000. Check our list below and enjoy your shopping experience!

 1. Consider the right time to buy the Diy macrame plant hanger

When is the best time to buy the product? Is it when you need it, or does the timing make no difference? It might seem like there's never a good time to buy something, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

There are many factors to consider when deciding to buy a pro product in 2022  from Amazon. These include your current financial situation, the amount of money you have available for purchases, the type of product that best suits your needs, and the type of warranty offered by the manufacturer. If you're faced with an urgent buying decision, price will likely take precedence over considerations such as quality and durability.

It is essential to understand your needs before you start shopping. Knowing what type of product best suits your lifestyle can also help you find the right time to buy it.

Consider these questions when making a buying decision to find out exactly how much it's worth spending on something new for you or someone else.

What are the things about me and my life that I want this product to do? How many times am I going to use this thing?

Do I have enough space in the house for another object? Is there anything better than this particular model/style/brand? "These questions should give you an idea of whether it's time to make a purchase now or wait until later if possible."

2. Consider buying the Diy macrame plant hanger in bulk so you can save money

If you are looking for ways to save money, consider buying the product in size. You may be able to buy things like toilet paper or cereal at a lower unit price than if you were to buy them individually.

When shopping online, check shipping and handling charges before making your purchase to avoid overpaying for an item just because it's on sale.

Buying in bulk is a great way to save money in all aspects of your life. You can buy bulk groceries, clothing, and household items. Buying products in the quantity you need allows you to use them more before they expire or lose their value.

If you want to save money on your purchases, consider buying the product for less than $2,000 wholesale. This way, you will get the same quantity of items at a lower price.

Building up enough stock for this strategy to be effective can take some time, but it's worth it when times are tight and cash flow is low, or you need extra stock for an any reason.

But remember that there is never any guarantee that these agreements will last! So be sure to buy quickly before they sell out again!

3. Find out the policies and services before buying the Diy macrame plant hanger

3.1. Warranty policy

Do you know the warranty policy before buying the product under $100? When buying the product in 2020, it is essential to see the type of guarantee of the company.

There are many types of contracts and each has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, if a product has a manufacturer's warranty, that means they will replace or repair your item for free within the first year of purchase.

GPS devices are increasingly common in cars. Whether you're driving in a "regular" car or one that doesn't have any type of car navigation system, it's imperative that you have at least basic navigation. Buy now

If there is no manufacturer's warranty, companies can always offer other warranties such as an extended service plan that can last for 15 years at an additional cost.

In addition to these two common types of contracts, some manufacturers offer things like injury protection plans or flexible solutions to choose the coverage you want instead of being stuck with a predetermined interval. You cannot always know if a product is faulty before you buy it.

This is why we advise consumers, whenever possible, to take the time and effort to learn about the warranty policies of the desired products before making a purchase decision. For example, many manufacturers offer extended warranties on certain items or offer free one2022 protection plans in response to consumer feedback. This way you can educate yourself on your options, so there will never be any surprises at all!

3.2. Return policy

Before buying the product in 2022, consider the return policy. You might be surprised to learn that many retailers have strict return policies, so it's important to know what they are before making a purchase.

The best place to start is by reading the store's website or contacting customer service with questions about specific items. If you can't find any information online, call ahead and ask them in person!

The best way to shop is to know in advance whether to return a product. If the store has a great return policy, you can be sure you're buying something without fear of buyer's remorse.

But if they don't have a great return policy, it's best to buy from another store or do some research yourself before making a purchase decision.

Before committing to anything online, make sure there are no hidden charges and free delivery is always available You want peace of mind when shopping, so grab these ten minutes now and find out their policies!

3.3. Customer Service

When you're in the product market in 2022 from Quora or Target, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your money. Customer service is a huge indicator that a business will offer good products and service after making the sale.

Customer Service understands their responsiveness to customer queries if they have an online chat, live chat, email address on their website that customers can use to contact them in a problem case.

Knowledge is power and by doing your research before purchasing the best customer service products, you can avoid a lot of frustration down the road.

We hope this part was helpful in providing you with customer service knowledge before purchasing the product for less than $300. If not, let us know! Our team wants to help ensure that all of our customers are well-informed consumers who have access to the information they need to make informed decisions.

We hope you find this guide interesting and useful. It was written to help people think about buying the product, what they are looking for when making a purchase, and how to get the best possible deal on any product.

Our goal is that by reading our advice here, you can make better decisions when shopping online or offline without feeling pressured into making an impulse purchase!

If there's anything else we can do for you while we're writing these articles, please let us know, we'll be happy to answer your questions or give you even more advice if needed. And of course, feel free to share with other readers who might benefit!

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John Grisham By, John Grisham


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DiDi Chooses NVIDIA DRIVE for New Fleet of Self-Driving Robotaxis

Ride-hailing giant’s autonomous driving platform built on DRIVE is capable of up to 700 TOPS.
by Katie Burke

Robotaxis are one major step closer to becoming reality.

DiDi Autonomous Driving, the self-driving technology arm of mobility technology leader Didi Chuxing, announced last month a strategic partnership with Volvo Cars on autonomous vehicles for DiDi’s self-driving test fleet.

Volvo Cars’ autonomous drive-ready XC90 cars will be the first to integrate DiDi Gemini, a new self-driving hardware platform, which is equipped with NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Pegasus. These vehicles, equipped with DiDi’s Gemini self-driving hardware platform, will eventually be deployed in robotaxi services.

Volvo Cars teams up with world’s leading mobility technology platform DiDi for self-driving test fleet

These self-driving test vehicles are significant progress towards commercial robotaxi services.

Robotaxis are autonomous vehicles that can operate on their own in geofenced areas, such as cities or residential communities. With a set of high-resolution sensors and a supercomputing platform in place of a driver, they can safely operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

And as a safer alternative to current modes of transit, robotaxis are expected to draw quick adoption once deployed at scale, making up more than 5 percent of vehicle miles traveled worldwide by 2030.

With the high-performance, energy-efficient compute of NVIDIA DRIVE at their core, these autonomous driving systems developed by DiDi are poised to help accelerate this landmark transition.

Doubling Up on Redundancy

The key to DiDi’s robotaxi ambitions is its new self-driving hardware platform, DiDi Gemini.

Achieving fully autonomous vehicles requires centralized, high-performance compute. The amount of sensor data a robotaxi needs to process is 100x greater than today’s most advanced vehicles.

The complexity in software also increases exponentially, with an array of redundant and diverse deep neural networks running simultaneously as part of an integrated software stack.

Built on NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Pegasus, DiDi Gemini achieves 700 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of performance, and includes up to 50 high-resolution sensors and an ASIL-D rated fallback system. It is architected with multi-layered redundant protections to enhance the overall safety of the autonomous driving experience.

The Gemini platform was designed using Didi Chuxing’s massive database of ride-hailing data as well as real-world autonomous driving test data to deliver the optimal self-driving hardware experience.

A New Generation of Collaboration

DiDi’s test fleet also marks a new era in technology collaboration.

DiDi and Volvo Cars plan to build a long-term partnership, expanding the autonomous test fleets across China and the U.S. and scaling up commercial robotaxi operations. The NVIDIA DRIVE platform enables continuous improvement over the air, facilitating these future plans of development and expansion.

This collaboration combines long-held legacies in vehicle safety, ride-hailing expertise and AI computing to push the bounds of transportation technology for safer, more efficient everyday mobility.


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Blood Orange Review Emerging Writers Contest

Since 2006, Blood Orange Review has championed the work of new and established writers. As we enter our 16th year of publication, our editors and readers invite up-and-coming writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid work to submit to our first ever Emerging Writer’s Contest.

The contest recognizes work by writers who have yet to publish in a nationally distributed literary journal. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are permitted, provided you notify Blood Orange Review if your work is accepted elsewhere.
Thanks to generous support from the Washington State University Honors College, one first-place winner will receive $500 and publication in the journal. A second-place winner will receive $250 and publication.
Contest submissions will be open February 5th-April 5th, 2022. Submission fee is $10. If the fee poses a financial hardship, please send us an email* to request a fee waiver. Blood Orange Review readers and editors will judge. The first- and second-place winners will be announced in August 2022 and their work will appear in the Fall/Winter 2022 volume of Blood Orange Review.
  • Poetry: Submit up to five poems.
  • Fiction: Submit up to 5,000 words, double-spaced.
  • Nonfiction: Submit up to 5,000 words, double-spaced.
  • Cross-Genre/Hybrid: Submit up to 5,000 words with images, experimental formatting, etc.
Please direct questions or fee waiver requests to our Managing Editor, Lauren Westerfield, at

CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines—defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.


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Rustic Outdoor Living Spaces

outdoor living spaces

Modern outdoor living trends have evolved beyond the basic grill paired with a patio table and chair set. Today’s backyard is more than just a place for the kids to play; it’s an additional living space that can be enjoyed year-round, especially in warmer regions. Because the backyard is an extension of your home’s living … Read more


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Ethical and Sustainable Sportswear Factory

Hands up if you’ve heard any of these phrases thrown about; ethical fashion; sustainable fashion; slow fashion. These are common phrases that brands and suppliers are using on a daily basis without actually being or offering either.

Sustainability is a term now commonly used across the globe as consumers become more aware of the harm production of goods can cause the planet. Many suppliers, factories and brands claim to be sustainable in an attempt to win over customers loyalty, however many are simply using the term rather than following the meaning.

Consumerism, oversupply and little regard for the planet has resulted in the world eventually waking up to the fact we have severely damaged our planet and we cannot continue to strip it of its resources.

Sustainable is the future and as an industry, we need to act fast as fashion is the second biggest polluting industry in the world behind Oil and Gas.

Sustainability is about the entire production process and lifespan of the product and the impact it has on the planet. 100% sustainable is almost impossible to achieve as this has zero impact on the planet by using no power, water, resources, fuel, transport or chemicals to produce, sell and dispose of after use. The only truly sustainable things in the world are natural, self-populating things such as plants.

When brands claim they make a sustainable T-shirt, we need to remember that to get the T-shirt from raw ingredients to the consumer, the T-shirt production and delivery needs power, water & transport. Sure, aspects of the T-shirt may be sustainable, for instance, they use Organic Cotton, but nobody is talking about the carbon footprint to produce and ship the T-shirt or the 27,000Ltrs of water used to grow the cotton to produce just the one T-shirt.

So, 100% sustainable isn’t possible unless we farm our own sheep, shear them, spin the wool and knit our own garments. There are however sustainable solutions to many of the harmful aspects of the production of garments. We can use natural fibres that grow fast and use little water. Wool and Tencel are great examples of this.

We could produce more locally to the source of the raw ingredients and where the goods will be sold and perhaps produce in a factory that uses solar power and heat source pumps to power their factory.

We could produce less, thinking about what you will actually sell rather than what you would like to sell, and we could design the product to be classic and timeless and build them better, so they last longer. This leads us to Slow fashion, which is the opposite of Fast Fashion.

Fast Fashion is trend-led, usually low quality, quick turnaround, cheap clothes that are in fashion and last for one season and then thrown away. We know the key players here, with jeans that sell for £4 and constant sales to move unwanted overbuys that greedy fashion buyers purchased to hit their targets.

Slow fashion is about the long term. Classic styles that will last longer, always remain cool but not trend-led and purchased in a more sustainable way to reduce the impact on the planet. They are usually produced to a higher standard and in limited numbers.

Ethical fashion is linked heavily to Slow Fashion with total transparency on where it’s made, who made what part and making sure the workers along each stage of the production are paid a fair wage in good working conditions. Many big brands and fast-fashion retailers claim they audit factories, many of who will do this; however, they only audit the final sewing factory and few dig any deeper than this.

Some questions never asked-:

Who picks the cotton from the cotton fields (often children)?

Who produced the fabric and components?

How are these ingredients shipped?

Who prints the fabric?

Is the factory audited to produce the goods actually subcontracting them out to 3rd party factories?

It’s only when the industry starts to question the full supply chain can we be certain that every aspect of the production process has been managed ethically rather than simply ticking a marketing box and auditing only one small aspect of the production process.

If you have read this far, hopefully, you can see that ethics and sustainability are core beliefs behind Blue Associates Sportswear and we work heavily in this area with many of our clients that share this belief. We have a huge library of ethically and sustainably sourced fabrics and our factories have strict environmental strategies in place to make sure their production has a reduced effect on the planet in terms of waste and power.

If you are interested in producing ethical or sustainable sportswear for your brand, please get in touch and see how we can help.

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Public Relations & Marketing Associate

Founded in 1997 and based in the beautiful Chilterns, Blue Associates Sportswear Ltd designs, produces, launches and promotes high-performance sportswear for blue-chip sports brands around

Want to know a production timeline for a bespoken activewear range?

The time it takes to launch a brand or activewear range from our initial conversation through to shipped production varies on where it is produced and how complex the garments are. China is the fastest route as the development process and size of sample rooms/ production lines are usually far bigger than European factories, however the accuracy obtained by European factories on 1st samples can sometimes catch the Chinese lead up. Below is a typical timeline of the complex processes involved and

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