Top 3 tech, startup and sustainability stories of the week, 19th

This week’s stories are about tech, startup and sustainability, coming from India and the USA

1-Apple’s China shift starts with Foxconn’s $433 million chip deal in India

Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer,gained approval from the Indian government to establish a semiconductor manufacturing plant in partnership with India’s HCL Group. The joint venture, set to attract an investment of $433 million, marks a significant step in India’s efforts to boost its domestic chipmaking capabilities.

I saw this story at Cnbc and the facility will be located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and is expected to become operational by 2027, according to India’s Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The plant will focus on producing display driver chips—critical components used in smartphones, laptops, vehicles, personal computers, and other consumer electronics, according to the story. The facility is designed to produce up to 20,000 semiconductor wafers and 36 million display driver chips each month, Vaishnaw said. Semiconductor wafers are thin slices of silicon used as the base for microelectronic devices.(By the way I have a story here about Apple)

The move comes amid a broader shift by global electronics manufacturers, including Apple suppliers like Foxconn, to diversify production outside of China, the story underlined. This trend has been accelerated by ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China, and recent tariffs imposed by the U.S. government.

Apple, in particular, has been steadily ramping up iPhone production in India. Analysts at Bernstein estimate that India could contribute as much as 15% to 20% of global iPhone output by the end of 2025, up from the current 10% to 15% according to Evercore ISI, as the story put it.

Apple’s China shift starts with Foxconn’s $433M chip deal in India (Image: Getty Images)

2-Air taxis to transport fans and VIPs during 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Air taxis will be deployed to transport fans and VIPs across Los Angeles during the 2028 Summer Olympics. Archer Aviation, a California-based aerospace company, will operate the electric aircraft service using its piloted eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle, Midnight.

I saw this story at ABCnews and the air taxis will carry up to four passengers at a time, offering quick 10 to 20-minute flights between key Olympic venues and city landmarks via a network of vertiports. Planned locations include SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as well as Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Orange County, the story emphasized.

“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America,” said Archer Aviation CEO and founder Adam Goldstein.

Archer’s Midnight aircraft promises quieter, cleaner, and more sustainable travel compared to conventional helicopters, according to the story. Designed with safety in mind, the aircraft features 12 engines and propellers and is built to meet FAA safety standards comparable to commercial airliners. The air taxis are being manufactured at the company’s facilities in San Jose, California, and Covington, Georgia, as the story put it.

As an official partner of the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as Team USA, Archer Aviation will also support emergency response and security operations during the event.

Air taxis to transport fans and VIPs during 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

3-Coca-Cola to revise recycling labels after EU greenwashing complaint

Coca-Cola agreed to revise the labeling on some of its products following a greenwashing complaint filed by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), although the company denies any legal wrongdoing.

I read this story at ESGdive and In a statement issued last week, the European Commission confirmed that Coca-Cola will now include a disclaimer on its bottles clarifying that only the body of the bottle—not the label or cap—is made from 100% recycled plastic. The company also pledged to stop using misleading green imagery, such as a closed recycling loop logo, which BEUC said falsely implied environmental neutrality.

The changes come in response to a complaint filed in November 2023 by BEUC and consumer groups from 13 EU member states. The complaint accused Coca-Cola, Danone, and Nestlé of making deceptive claims about the recyclability of their plastic bottles in violation of EU rules on unfair commercial practices.

Coca-Cola said it would modify the call to action on its packaging from “Recycle me again” to simply “Recycle me” to avoid overstating the potential for reuse. The company added that it remains committed to promoting responsible disposal of its packaging materials.

“These commitments do not amount to an admission that The Coca-Cola Company has infringed the law,” the company stated.

“It is good news that Coca-Cola has heeded consumers’ call and commits to clarify that its ‘100%’ recycling claims only apply to parts of the bottle,” BEUC Director General Agustín Reyna said in a statement. “Affirming that a bottle is 100% recycled or recyclable is outright misleading and should stop, just as green imagery that gives the wrong impression that plastic drink bottles have zero impact on the environment.”