8MAY, 2025BENGALURU COMPANY'S BREAKTHROUGH IN RECYCLING TOUGH PLASTICSAPPLE'S INDIA MANUFACTURING PUSH FACES CHALLENGES FROM CHINAABengaluru-based company, Steer World, has come up with an exciting new way to recycle plastics that were once impossible to melt, like the kind used in electrical wiring (crosslinked polyethylene, or XLPE). Announced on April 24, 2025, this game-changing technology could help keep more plastic out of landfills and oceans.Some plastics, like XLPE, are built to last, with super-strong chemical bonds that laugh in the face of traditional recycling. But Steer World's Omega Twin-Screw Extrusion Technology, with its clever Fractional Geometry trick, breaks those bonds apart. It turns XLPE scraps into reusable pellets, dubbed De-XLPE, which can be turned into new things like wire coatings. That means less new plastic and way less waste.India churns out about 26,000 tonnes of plastic trash daily, and we're already recycling 60% of it, way better than the global 20% average. Still, tricky plastics like XLPE often slip through the cracks and become pollution. Steer World's tech steps up to solve this, backing India's efforts to clean up its act and follow rules that make companies take responsibility for their plastic.This breakthrough is huge for industries like electrical work, car manufacturing, and construction, where tough plastics are a must. It helps cut down on the environmental mess of making fresh plastic and fits perfectly with the push for a greener planet. Other companies, like Uflex, are also jumping in, creating eco-friendly packaging to ditch single-use plastics.Steer World's invention is like a ray of sunshine in the fight against plastic pollution. As India shows the world how to recycle better, this tech could spark a global shift, giving even the most stubborn plastics a second chance to do good instead of harm. Apple has a bold plan to shake things up by building more iPhones in India and trying to rely less on China. But it's hitting some big bumps, mostly because of China-related headaches and local growing pains.Apple's been working with partners like Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata's Wistron to get iPhone production rolling in India. With some nice incentives from India's government, like the Production-Linked Incentive program, India's gone from barely making iPhones to handling about 14% of Apple's global supply. Last year, they made 7 billion USD worth of iPhones. Apple's even planning to start building the iPhone 17 base model there by late 2025, showing they're serious about making newer models outside China, where 80% of iPhones are currently assembled.But it's not all smooth. Some iPhones made in India, like the iPhone 15, had quality issues, with tons of returns. That forced Apple to send some production back to China for now. India's factories also struggle with shaky infrastructure and slower shipping, which slows things down. Plus, there's bad blood between India and China over border disputes, so India's put tough rules on Chinese companies. That makes it hard for Apple's Chinese suppliers to set up in India.The U.S.-China trade war and tariffs are also pushing Apple to spread out its manufacturing, and India's a top pick. Last year, Apple exported 12.8 billion USD in iPhones from India, up 42% from the year before. But China still has a big hold on the supply chain, since a lot of iPhone parts come from there.Apple's not backing down. They're planning four new stores in India and want to make 32% of their iPhones there by 2027. But to pull this off, they'll need to navigate these political messes and help India's factories get up to speed. TOP STORIES8MAY, 2025
< Page 7 | Page 9 >