A line on a globe is a question worth asking.
How to read an illustrative supply chain without mistaking it for a shipment record.
Reviewed 2026-09-22. Open in the interactive atlas.
Places represent stages
A marker identifies a city or region associated with the atlas model. It does not pinpoint a farm, certify a mill or identify a contractual relationship.
Lines show connections in a model
Curves connect stages for exploration. They are not vessel tracks, road itineraries, customs records or evidence that every batch travels that way. Shipping often involves ports and warehouses that are not drawn.
Distance has a narrow meaning
The atlas estimates great-circle distance between the listed markers. It excludes real shipping detours and local collection legs. It is not a carbon calculation.
Follow the evidence
Technical sources explain processes and material properties. Confirming an actual chain would require supplier records and product-level documentation. Specialty entries inherited from the old atlas are explicitly marked as unverified.
Sources & further reading
- Natural Earth / World Atlas: World map geometry
Bundled generalized map data. City markers are approximate and do not identify suppliers.