WHEN you think there are billions of grains of sand on one stretch of beach alone, it seems hard to believe the world is facing a growing sand shortage, but climate scientists say it is one of the greatest sustainability challenges of the 21st century - and this is causing vaccine-related concerns.

 

There’s a sand shortage?

Scientists say it is one of the most under appreciated commodities on earth; a cornerstone of so many features of daily life for which there is an insatiable demand.

 

Such as?

After water, it is the most in demand raw material, used to build roads and bridges to provide bulk, strength and other properties to materials like asphalt and concrete, as well as being crushed together with gravel and rock and melted down to make the glass used in windows, computer screens and smartphones.

 

One of the problems is…?

Sand is also used to make the glass needed for vaccine vials and as the world is going to need something like two billion excess glass vials in the next two years alone to enable the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, concern is rising that any shortage could impact the vaccine rollout.

 

Scientists are concerned?

Pascal Peduzzi, a climate scientist with the United Nations Environment Programme, said during a webinar hosted by London-based independent policy institute Chatham House, that “it is time to take a look and change our perception about sand. We just think that sand is everywhere. We never thought we would run out of sand, but it is starting in some places”.

 

How much are we using?

It is not possible to accurately determine global sand use but experts look to cement for an estimation. The UN estimated that 4.1 billion tons of cement is produced every year. According to the United States Geological Survey, from 2011 to 2013, China used 6.5 gigatons of cement which is more than America used during the entire 20th century. If global use of sand is even just 10 times higher than that of cement, it means the world consumes roughly 40 to 50 billion tons of sand annually.

 

There’s no time to replenish?

The global rate of use exceeds the natural rate of replenishment by the weathering of rocks by wind and water and so, although it is found lining coastlines around the world, demand is eating into supply. Also, not all sand is useful - desert sands are too smooth, for example.

 

Mining?

Sand and gravel mines are reducing in number and extractors are focusing on rivers, coastlines and seabeds in locations such as India and China, with the impact on the ecosystem described as “severe”.

 

What now?

Environmental campaigners are calling on corporations and governments to establish global standards, as well as ensuring more is done to protect fragile habitats. Researchers have also started looking at viable alternatives to sand, including volcanic ash, agricultural waste and fly ash, a byproduct of burning coal.