AN ATLAS OF THE MATERIAL WORLD
Where does it
come from?Where does it go?
Follow the materials in everyday life—from extraction and trade to recycling and disposal.
ExtractionUseWhat comes next
REPORTED TRADE
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Refined copper & alloysLoading trade records…
UN Comtrade · 20 largest available connections · country anchors, not shipping routes.
Geography: Natural Earth
01 / THE THINGS AROUND YOU
Start with a material.
PpPaper & cardboardA cardboard boxPETPlastic packagingA plastic containerCuCopperCopper wireAlAluminiumAn aluminium canFeIron & steelA steel canGlGlassA glass jarEeElectronicsAn old computerOrgFood & organicsFood scrapsCaConcrete & mineralsA buildingWdWoodWooden furnitureTxTextilesA cotton shirtCFossil fuelsFuel in a vehicleMxMixed garbageA bag of rubbishPPBulky rigid plasticsA plastic lawn chair
02 / A CLOSER LOOK
Or follow a question.
A CITYWhat happens to
Are we using
Where does the
What happens to
Vancouver’s waste?
Inspect collection and treatment, then compare 262 city records around the world.
Follow the city’s waste recordOVER TIMEAre we using
more material?
Compare 55 years of extraction, material use and footprints, in total or per person.
Compare countries over timeOIL, GAS & COALWhere does the
world’s fuel come from?
Start in the Middle East. Compare producers, consumption and trade across the years.
Open the energy recordsFollow the evidence.
Every figure has a source. Reporting years and coverage vary, and a trade record does not identify an object’s final destination.