The Sand Crisis; Building a Sustainable Future
by Alanna Campbell
25 October 2024
The Sand Beneath Our Feet
Sand, often overlooked, is a crucial component of our modern world. From the towering skyscrapers to the roads we drive on, sand is the backbone of our infrastructure. It's a staggering fact that sand is the second most extracted natural resource globally, second only to water.
A Growing Demand
The increasing demand for sand is primarily driven by the construction industry. Sand is a key ingredient in concrete, the most widely used building material worldwide. As urbanisation accelerates and populations grow, the demand for sand continues to soar.
The Environmental Toll
However, the relentless extraction of sand has severe environmental consequences:
- Erosion: Sand mining, particularly in riverbeds and coastal areas, can lead to erosion and shoreline loss.
- Water Scarcity: Removing sand from river-beds can disrupt water flow and reduce groundwater levels.
- Biodiversity Loss: Sand mining can destroy habitats and harm aquatic ecosystems.
- Pollution: Mining operations often involve heavy machinery and chemicals, polluting water bodies.
The long term effects have started to show up in destinations ranging from India's Phalguni River, rivers of Azad Kashmir in northern Pakistan, Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, to name a few.
A Sustainable Future
To mitigate the environmental impact of sand mining, researchers and innovators are exploring sustainable alternatives:
- Reccycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA): Crushed concrete from demolished buildings can be reused as a construction material.
- Industrial Byproducts: Materials like fly ash from power plants and steel slag can be incorporated into concrete.
- Bio-Based Materials: Innovative materials derived from fungi and agricultural waste offer sustainable alternatives.
By embracing these innovative solutions and adopting responsible mining practices, we can reduce our reliance on sand and build a more sustainable future.
Sources:
Sand as a Resource:
Hernandez, S., Scarr, T., & Daigle, J. (2021). The World's Most Mined Material. Reuters
Schiff, M. (2022, May 2). What Happens When We Run Out of Sand? Marketplace. marketplace.org
United Nations (UN). (2018). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Pitchaiah, S. (2017). The Environmental Impact of Sand Mining. International Journal of Geo-Engineering & Geosciences (IJGGS). https://www.internationaljournalssrg.org/IJGGS/2017/Volume4-Issue1/IJGGS-V4I1P101.pdf(Note: This source requires a paid subscription to access the full article)
Sustainable Building Materials:
Morrison, A. (2021, June 24). Alternatives to Concrete in Construction. Bricsys. https://www.bricsys.com/en-eu/blog/alternatives-to-concrete-in-construction
DW. (2024, May 17). Beer Hop Waste Used to Create Sustainable Building Material. Instagram
Ford, M. (2024, June 12). Recycled Building Materials Made From Trash. Family Handyman. https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/recycled-building-materials-made-from-trash/
Additional Resource:
Inside Climate News. (2022, June 24). Concrete is Worse for the Climate Than Flying. Why Aren't More People Talking About It?
insideclimatenews.org (Note: While not directly cited in the blog post, this resource offers further context on the environmental impact of traditional building materials.)
insideclimatenews.org (Note: While not directly cited in the blog post, this resource offers further context on the environmental impact of traditional building materials.)
