Listen to today’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silk-logic-sustainability-daily/id1842028080
Welcome back to the show! Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories: a mix of climate-smart agriculture, clean-tech breakthroughs, data-driven policy research, sustainable packaging shifts, and a notable move in Asia’s Web3 and entertainment landscape.
How the Good Rice Alliance is driving sustainable farming practices among paddy farmers
By Vishwanath Kulkarni — October 13, 2025
Farmers in Karnataka adopting alternate wetting and drying (AWD) through The Good Rice Alliance report 30–35% water savings, improved yields, and lower methane emissions. The program has scaled to 55,000 hectares across 13 Indian states, with estimated annual reductions of about 120,000 tCO2e and registration underway with Gold Standard. Modest incentives and on-field advisory support are accelerating adoption while cutting input costs and disease pressure.
Chara Technologies raises ₹52 cr to expand rare-earth-free motor manufacturing
By BL Bengaluru Bureau — October 13, 2025
Chara raised ₹52 crore to 5x its annual capacity and scale rare-earth-free synchronous reluctance motors for EVs and industrial uses, reducing cost and supply-chain dependence. The company’s partnership with Greaves Cotton targets significant cost savings and ~30% lower CO2 by eliminating rare-earth magnets. With ARAI/ICAT approvals and nearly 100 customers, Chara aims for rapid international expansion and multi-segment deployment.
Finland’s ‘sand battery’ listed among Time magazine’s best inventions of 2025
By Yle News — October 13, 2025
Polar Night Energy’s high-temperature sand battery—deployed in Pornainen, Finland—earned a spot on Time’s Best Inventions list for its potential to store renewable heat for buildings and industry. By banking surplus wind and solar as thermal energy, the system helps cut emissions and lower costs. The recognition underscores thermal storage’s growing role in balancing grids and decarbonizing heat.
Dynamic supply-side multipliers in China’s marine economy: A neural network-enhanced Ghosh model for sustainable development
By Jian Jin, Mingqi Zhang — October 13, 2025
Researchers integrated LSTM neural networks with a Ghosh supply-side model to quantify output, income, and employment multipliers across China’s marine sectors (2017–2023). Findings highlight marine tourism’s outsized contribution to value added and output, with transport leading income and employment multipliers and fisheries driving direct job creation. The approach offers policymakers a dynamic tool to optimize investment, infrastructure, and sectoral balance for sustainable growth.
Eco-Friendly Straws Market Trends and Growth Opportunity Analysis Report 2025 | Government Bans on Plastic Propel Adoption of Biodegradable Straws
By Research and Markets — October 13, 2025
The eco-friendly straws market is projected to nearly double to US$20.81 billion by 2031 (10.3% CAGR), driven by bans on single-use plastics and rising consumer demand for sustainable options. Materials like bamboo, bagasse, and bioplastics are gaining traction as countries enact stronger regulations and companies pivot to greener packaging. Social media visibility and brand commitments are accelerating adoption across foodservice and retail.
Professional Diversity Network establishes Japanese subsidiary, launching new phase of its Asia strategy and global expansion
By (not listed) — October 13, 2025
Professional Diversity Network formed a wholly owned subsidiary in Tokyo to anchor its Asia strategy across Web3 and entertainment. Focus areas include real-world asset tokenization, DeFi, NFTs, and distributed storage, with plans to collaborate on regional concert tours and digital experiences. The move leverages Japan’s regulatory and innovation environment to scale new digital ecosystems.
Together, these stories reflect a broader momentum: from farms to factories, batteries to blue economies, and packaging to platforms, sustainability is being built into the core of how we grow food, power cities, move people, and design markets. As policy, technology, and capital align, expect faster deployment, smarter systems, and more resilient outcomes. Thanks for listening—and for diving deeper with the full stories linked above.
