Week in Review: Pricey Beans, Stolen Jeans & Freezers Going Green

Hold onto your wallets and lock up your cargo—this week in review might just leave you reaching for that overpriced coffee. First, we explore why your morning brew has joined eggs in the “luxury items” category, with prices shooting up faster than your caffeine-induced heart rate. Then, hop aboard the Memphis express, where modern-day train robbers are giving Jesse James a run for his stolen money. We then cool things down with ZIM’s counterintuitive climate strategy (turns out your freezer doesn’t need to be that cold) before checking out United Airlines’ pharmaceutical fast lane that’s turning empty cargo holds into prescription gold mines. Finally, corporate climate leaders face delays as the Science Based Targets initiative hits the pause button on its net-zero standard; because even saving the planet requires patience. Buckle up!

Rise & Whine: When Eggs AND Coffee Give Your Wallet a Roasting

First eggs scrambled your budget, now your morning joe is giving you the jitters—and not from the caffeine. Coffee futures have shot up over 30% since January, hitting heights that would make a barista dizzy. Your cup of liquid motivation is caught in a perfect storm of price hikes—and there’s more than one bean counter behind this bitter brew.

Bean There, Paying That: The Global Coffee Crunch

Brazil melted under its hottest year ever in 2024, while Vietnam’s drought left coffee plants gasping. The result? Regular coffee prices jumped 2.5% in January, while instant coffee lovers got slapped with a 7.1% increase. Major players feel the heat: Andrea Illy, chairman of illy caffè, admitted price hikes loom “with no alternative.” Even Keurig Dr Pepper’s CFO signals more coffee inflation ahead for 2025.

From Grande to Grander: The Price Ripple Effect

Starbucks might keep steady thanks to savvy future contracts, but smaller vendors face tough choices. Your instant coffee took the biggest hit, soaring 60% over the past year. Why? Vietnam’s robusta bean shortage—paired with climbing shipping and labor costs—created the perfect recipe for price spikes. Heather Perry, CEO of Klatch Coffee, pointed out instant coffee’s razor-thin margins make it extra vulnerable to these rising costs. The U.S.—second only to the EU in coffee imports—heavily depends on Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam… meaning that your morning cuppa stands right in the crosshairs of this global squeeze. 

Walking in Graceland, Stealing on Main: Memphis’ Train Cargo Theft Problem

Want to know where modern-day train robbers strike gold? Look no further than Memphis, where five major railroads merge and millions of pounds of cargo roll through—or sometimes roll right off the trains. While Jesse James might have hung up his hat, a new breed of boxcar bandits kept law enforcement scrambling in 2024, pushing Memphis—shockingly—to the No. 2 spot nationwide for cargo theft.

Steal City Blues: Why Thieves Love Memphis Rails

Talk about a sticky-fingered jackpot: Shelby County grabs the not-so-proud crown for “hosting” 70% of Tennessee’s cargo theft chaos. The numbers tell quite a tale: 3,625 heists across North America in 2024, rocketing up 27% from 2023. These aren’t your random smash-and-grabbers either. Today’s rail raiders target the good stuff: vehicle parts, computers, and footwear. But here’s the kicker. While most crooks target trucks, rail theft keeps climbing. Why? Because trains often sit like sitting ducks for hours—especially overnight—making them perfect targets for the organized crime rings that have mastered their craft.

Game of Trains: Memphis Strikes Back

Memphis residents have watched this show long enough—and now they’re changing the channel. New razor wire fences now guard vulnerable tracks. Just ask North Memphis resident Donnie Hunter, who joked that thieves “don’t want to jump that fence now.” But the real power move? A $100 million bipartisan bill cooking up multiagency task forces to derail these heists. Rep. Steve Cohen is spearheading the effort—while railroad companies pour millions into lights and cameras for real-time cargo theft detection. The FBI and Memphis police already tag team through their joint task force, sending perps to the Shelby County DA for extra-strength sentences. With Memphis loading up its defense, these railway robbers might soon hear that final whistle blow.

ZIM’s Hot Take on Cold Cargo: Why -15°C Changes Everything

Talk about a hot take on cooling down the planet: Shipping giant ZIM is cranking up the thermostat to fight climate change. The master plan? Nudge frozen cargo temps up by just three degrees, from -18°C to -15°C as part of the “Move to -15” coalition’s mission. This will slash 17.7 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions yearly—the same as yanking 3.8 million cars off the road.  

Mom’s Freezer Wisdom Goes Global

Your mom was right about not keeping the freezer too cold—and ZIM’s massive fleet of refrigerated containers proves it works at sea, too. The company’s bold move to dial back temperatures challenges the “colder is better” mindset that’s ruled frozen shipping for generations. “We’re advancing sustainable, cutting-edge solutions to lower environmental impact in global shipping,” said ZIM EVP and COO David Arbel. And while your frozen peas at home won’t notice those three degrees, Mother Earth certainly will.

Setting Sail for a Cooler Tomorrow

From frozen fish to ice cream, millions of products float across oceans in ZIM containers every day. Thanks to its partnership with the “Move to -15” coalition, each of these floating freezers now fights climate change—while keeping cargo perfectly preserved. The secret sauce? Those three tiny degrees of difference. The math speaks for itself: millions of metric tons of emissions avoided simply by being a little less chill. Turns out that “waste not, want not” wisdom works pretty well for saving the planet, too.

Sweet Cargo Score: United’s Pharma Pipeline Takes Flight

United Airlines pulled off quite the feat—turning a Miami startup carrier into its pharmaceutical express line between Puerto Rico and Chicago. The airline’s newest cargo scheme bypasses the usual airport shuffle, with Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) zipping temperature-sensitive drugs directly to O’Hare three times weekly. Talk about thinking outside the cargo hold: this is United’s first crack at using small freighters, and the airline is making it work.

Startup Airlines & Pharma Giants: A Love Story

Here’s where it gets good: GlobalX’s converted Airbus A321s started hauling United’s precious cargo from San Juan just two weeks ago. Instead of cramming pharma shipments into Newark-bound passenger planes like a game of real-life Tetris, major healthcare players across the Midwest can now get their goods as fast as ever. And when we say major players, we mean MAJOR: Puerto Rico cranks out eight of the world’s 15 hottest-selling biopharma products, and hosts manufacturing for 12 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies.

Digital Matchmaker Sparks Cargo Chemistry

Meet Airblox, the tech platform playing Cupid in this cargo romance. While other booking platforms live in the here and now, Airblox went long term—letting shippers lock down cargo space weeks in advance. GlobalX’s planes were flying south packed to the brim with everything from car parts to dinner ingredients, but those northbound flights? Empty—until United jumped in. Now United’s San Juan sales crew fills those planes with pharma shipments, while Airblox’s tech keeps everyone’s digital ducks in a row. United scored its first small freighter, shippers got their express lane to Chicago, and GlobalX kept its planes full. Now that’s what you call a win-win-win.

Net-Zero Drama: SBTi Pumps Brakes on Corporate Standard Revamp

The race to net zero just got longer. After a year marked by internal upheaval and heated debates over carbon credits, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has pushed its timeline for updating its Corporate Net-Zero Standard well into 2025. The organization’s original plan targeted early 2024 for draft consultation, but mounting controversy forced a strategic pause and rethink.

Carbon Credits Spark C-Suite Exodus

The drama kicked off when SBTi proposed expanding the use of carbon credits for Scope 3 emissions in April 2024. Staff revolted, penning a letter that blasted the proposal and demanded leadership changes. The pressure worked: CEO Luiz Amaral stepped down in July. Now, with former UK Committee on Climate Change chief David Kennedy taking the helm, SBTi appears ready to backtrack on those controversial credit plans. The organization will launch expert working groups to tackle thorny issues such as beyond value chain mitigation (BVCM) activities and Scope 2/3 emissions strategies.

Playing Nice with Version 1.0

Companies won’t need to tear up their existing plans when the new standard drops. SBTi promises to build bridges between old and new versions, preventing duplicate work for those that have already set targets. The revised timeline includes two rounds of public consultation—the first launching no earlier than March and lasting at least 60 days. SBTi Chief Impact Officer Tracy Wyman acknowledged the complexity, stating, “Reaching net zero is never going to be straightforward. But the guidance to get businesses there should be.” The message? Stay tuned—and keep those real-time tracking tools handy.

Don’t Let Your Cargo Join Next Week’s Headlines

When train cargo thieves and skyrocketing costs threaten your bottom line, real-time shipment visibility becomes your most strategic investment. So what can you do to take the first step so your freight doesn’t become next week’s news?

Arm yourself with innovation: Let Tive lead the way in transforming your supply chain operations. Embrace the future of logistics–get started with Tive today.

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