5 ms·

Where things come from. (Ham, Lipstick, etc)

65 points by hendler 14y ago

xbryanx 14y ago
Cool idea, but am I missing something? I couldn't find any details or sources on the maps. http://sourcemap.com/view/2542#stop-10 http://sourcemap.com/view/2542#stop-10 OK, Nutella takes a stop in Brazil...for what? Says who?
- SudarshanP 14y ago
  I think it is like a wiki... It will fill up over time. Since people may actually like to use this for advertising sustainable products, they can possibly certify authenticity of data through 3rd party badges or something I hope. I wish this develops into a truly valuable resource. Someday it could have semantic web like queryability too :) so that we can really ask "good questions" about our supply chains.
  - nooneelse 14y ago
    I would like this kind of data tied to my phone's bar-code scanner. Better would be options for me to select against arbitrary pieces of supply chains that I pick (or picked by lists I subscribe to) and just see an aggregate "my choice" score and important alerts when I scan something (rather than having to re-parse the implications of these maps in each isle). It would also be nice if I could share my pro/against list with the few grocery stores I frequent so they could mark my receipts with relevant changes in the supply chains for the products I buy (so I can cut out the redundant scanning on most purchases). I wouldn't even mind if the store got to use the info so they could see how many of their customers will/won't like the various options they are considering stocking.
    - rozap 14y ago
      Hey! I'm working on an app that does that. Bar codes are a bit tough to deal with (no 'central' database), as are subsidiary relationships, but we've come up with a way to handle it. We then generate a score based on the manufacturer and what you've subscribed to, which tells you how well the product aligns with your values. We're just finishing it up now, and it should be released in the next month or so (Android first, then iOS). We have a working mvp at the moment, and we're quite happy with how it's been going. I could post it on HN when we release, as I'll be looking for feedback :) Or, if you have an Android, contact me and I can send you our Alpha.
- vijaykiran 14y ago
  for Cocoa, may be. Seems like it is 6th cocoa producer in the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa_bean#World_production http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa_bean#World_production
- user24 14y ago
  Yes, it definitely needs citations, otherwise it's just heresay. Very cool idea, just a slightly immature implementation thus far.
  - fennecfoxen 14y ago
    I like the way that Toms shoes are magically generated from pixie dust at their headquarters, then get transported to their "one-for-one" drop sites. No mention of where the rubber in the soles comes from, or the canvas, or the colors, or where they're actually assembled, or anything about the distribution of shoes in the United States. It's a little hard for me to take the site seriously as a product supply chain information site when that's their idea of a featured supply chain map.
Cushman 14y ago
Eerie-- I was imagining something exactly like those maps just last night. It looks about as cool as I imagined.
sirdavidoff 14y ago
The 'West Ham Industry' map is about the area of London called 'West Ham', rather than the meat, as the title suggests. Hopefully that should save anyone else wondering why oranges are needed to make ham...
- sophacles 14y ago
  You mean aside from the glazing and/or citric acid that can be used in the preservation process?
dhughes 14y ago
My tiny Canadian province is know for mussels, lobster and potatoes none of which appear on the map.

65 points by hendler 14y ago

Cool idea, but am I missing something? I couldn't find any details or sources on the maps. http://sourcemap.com/view/2542#stop-10 http://sourcemap.com/view/2542#stop-10 OK, Nutella takes a stop in Brazil...for what? Says who?

SudarshanP 14y ago
I think it is like a wiki... It will fill up over time. Since people may actually like to use this for advertising sustainable products, they can possibly certify authenticity of data through 3rd party badges or something I hope. I wish this develops into a truly valuable resource. Someday it could have semantic web like queryability too :) so that we can really ask "good questions" about our supply chains.
- nooneelse 14y ago
  I would like this kind of data tied to my phone's bar-code scanner. Better would be options for me to select against arbitrary pieces of supply chains that I pick (or picked by lists I subscribe to) and just see an aggregate "my choice" score and important alerts when I scan something (rather than having to re-parse the implications of these maps in each isle). It would also be nice if I could share my pro/against list with the few grocery stores I frequent so they could mark my receipts with relevant changes in the supply chains for the products I buy (so I can cut out the redundant scanning on most purchases). I wouldn't even mind if the store got to use the info so they could see how many of their customers will/won't like the various options they are considering stocking.
  - rozap 14y ago
    Hey! I'm working on an app that does that. Bar codes are a bit tough to deal with (no 'central' database), as are subsidiary relationships, but we've come up with a way to handle it. We then generate a score based on the manufacturer and what you've subscribed to, which tells you how well the product aligns with your values. We're just finishing it up now, and it should be released in the next month or so (Android first, then iOS). We have a working mvp at the moment, and we're quite happy with how it's been going. I could post it on HN when we release, as I'll be looking for feedback :) Or, if you have an Android, contact me and I can send you our Alpha.
vijaykiran 14y ago
for Cocoa, may be. Seems like it is 6th cocoa producer in the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa_bean#World_production http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa_bean#World_production
user24 14y ago
Yes, it definitely needs citations, otherwise it's just heresay. Very cool idea, just a slightly immature implementation thus far.
- fennecfoxen 14y ago
  I like the way that Toms shoes are magically generated from pixie dust at their headquarters, then get transported to their "one-for-one" drop sites. No mention of where the rubber in the soles comes from, or the canvas, or the colors, or where they're actually assembled, or anything about the distribution of shoes in the United States. It's a little hard for me to take the site seriously as a product supply chain information site when that's their idea of a featured supply chain map.

Cushman 14y ago

Eerie-- I was imagining something exactly like those maps just last night. It looks about as cool as I imagined.

sirdavidoff 14y ago

The 'West Ham Industry' map is about the area of London called 'West Ham', rather than the meat, as the title suggests. Hopefully that should save anyone else wondering why oranges are needed to make ham...

sophacles 14y ago
You mean aside from the glazing and/or citric acid that can be used in the preservation process?

dhughes 14y ago

My tiny Canadian province is know for mussels, lobster and potatoes none of which appear on the map.