Louise Collins

Manufacturers in the automotive sector face lengthening approval processes when moving data across borders. Battery passport verification and supply chain carbon footprint tracking can require regulatory clearance that extends for months. Catena-X has partnered with the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and VDA China to create what it describes as the world's first trusted cross-border data network connecting Europe and China.

Manufacturers within the aerospace and defence supply chain are contending with tightening access to critical raw materials, as demand rises across the energy transition, data centres, artificial intelligence and smartphones. For manufacturers that depend on stable input costs and predictable lead times, this shift is beginning to disrupt production planning.

Supply Chain Digital takes a look at the top five stories from this week. Credit: Starbucks Exploring Starbucks' Sustainable Supply Chain Initiatives Starbucks has spent more than five decades developing its coffee supply chain. It has now published its 2025 Impact Report, which details how it sources coffee and manages operations across producer countries. According to the report, Starbucks implemented its Back to Starbucks strategy at the start of the 2025 fiscal year.