Listen to today’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silk-logic-sustainability-daily/id1842028080
Sustainability Daily Podcast 10/13/2025
Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
Clear skies ahead – Delta partners with Maeve on M80 hybrid regional aircraft
Delta is partnering with Dutch startup Maeve Aerospace to help certify and deploy the M80 hybrid‑electric, 80-seat regional aircraft, which targets up to 40% lower fuel burn and a range of about 900 miles. The design uses electric assistance for high-drag phases and electric taxi to cut surface emissions, aligning with Delta’s push for efficiency and lower carbon operations. If successful, it could set a new standard for cleaner, short-haul aviation.
Designer reimagines AI through Victorian craft philosophy
Max Park’s “Prompting Nowhere” turns a vintage Singer treadle sewing machine into a physically powered AI system trained on William Morris’s writings and ideals. By requiring manual effort to “power” prompts, the project reframes AI as a human-centered, values-driven tool rather than a frictionless automation engine. It’s a timely critique of speed-obsessed tech culture and a reminder to design for agency, sustainability, and reflection.
5 coral-inspired products that solve real problems in your home
From a coral-mimicking electric radiator that maximizes surface area for efficient heat, to a wall-mounted micro‑algae farm and bio‑cement reef modules that upcycle waste, designers are leveraging reef wisdom to blend form and sustainability. These products show how biomimicry can enhance performance, reduce materials, and tackle issues like coastal resilience and plastic pollution. Even everyday items like coral-formed soaps demonstrate how design can extend product life while elevating aesthetics.
Sustainable installation offers a beacon of light amid London’s Brutalist architecture
At London Design Festival, Lee Broom’s Beacon assembled hundreds of upcycled glass shades into a circular light sculpture that nods to Southbank’s history and activates the space each evening. Designed for disassembly, its components will live on as functional lighting, extending the installation’s impact. It’s a compelling case for circularity and storytelling in public art.
ACME Group eyes green steel foray
ACME will invest ₹5,000 crore in a 1.2 MTPA green HBI/DRI facility, backed by a 10-year, 0.8 MTPA offtake term sheet with Vietnam’s Stavian Industrial Metal. Powered by ACME’s green hydrogen projects, the plant targets some of the lowest-emission iron inputs for steelmaking. The long-term deal signals rising demand for low‑carbon steel supply chains across Asia and Europe.
Dubai trackless tram: the future of transport is on the move
Dubai’s proposed trackless tram (Autonomous Rapid Transit) combines tram-like comfort with bus-like flexibility using AI-guided virtual tracks, delivering zero-emission service with minimal infrastructure. With deployment timelines as short as 6–18 months per route, it could rapidly expand high-capacity transit to growth corridors while cutting congestion and emissions. The model underscores how cities can scale cleaner mobility without years of disruptive construction.
Organic shell roof made of thatch and mud tops sculptural eco-retreat in India
Raving Dots Studio’s Earth’s Embrace in Wayanad, Kerala, uses a thin ferrocement shell with breathable mud plaster and an Earth‑Air Tunnel for passive cooling, marrying computational optimization with vernacular techniques. The low-impact build preserves site ecology and orients to natural views, delivering comfort with minimal resources. It’s a blueprint for climate‑responsive, resource‑light hospitality design.