From Smuggling to Shortages: How Construction Can Break Through the Global Sand Crisis
- Twiggy Zhao
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
It may be surprising to learn that sand, often viewed as cheap, plain, and abundant, is one of the most heavily traded commodities in the world. Sand is present in many aspects of our daily lives, including buildings, glass, paint, cosmetics, and even in wine. The largest consumer of sand is the construction sector, particularly in concrete production, where sand is used as a fine aggregate that enhances the density, workability, and durability of concrete. However, it's important to note that not all sand is suitable for these uses.
A Global Sand Shortage
Despite its seeming abundance, sand is a natural resource that takes an extremely long time to form. The sand needed for construction must be angular and rough, typically sourced from rivers, lakes, and coastlines. Desert sand, which is rounded and polished by wind over time, cannot bond properly in concrete.
As urbanisation accelerates, especially in developing regions, global demand for sand continues to surge. Sand is now the second most consumed resource on Earth, after water. An estimated 50 billion tonnes are extracted annually, enough to build a nine-storey wall around the equator, and demand is still rising at around 6% per year. This level of extraction is not sustainable[1].
Ecological Damage and the Rise of Sand Crime
Excessive extraction of sand destabilises riverbanks, causes coastal erosion, and destroys aquatic habitats. Dredging riverbeds clouds the water, suffocates fish, and blocks sunlight that is essential for underwater vegetation.
In Southeast Asia, Vietnam's Mekong Delta is disappearing at an alarming rate of one and a half football fields per day due to rising sea levels, which are exacerbated by relentless sand mining[2].
As competition in the sand trade intensifies, criminal networks have become involved. Sand is illegally mined in large quantities and mixed into legitimate supply chains, making it nearly impossible to trace. The high demand for sand, combined with low barriers to entry and minimal risks, has allowed sand smuggling to flourish, often accompanied by violence and intimidation.
Circular Economy for Construction Materials Is Urgently Needed
Construction and infrastructure are the primary drivers of global sand and aggregate consumption, making it essential to build a more sustainable materials system. Policymakers and researchers increasingly agree that reducing the reliance on virgin sand and increasing the use of recycled aggregates are key steps forward.
The UK serves as a notable example in this regard. According to the Mineral Products Association (MPA), Britain processed a record 73.5 million tonnes of recycled and secondary materials in 2022, which accounted for over 30% of its total aggregate demand. Of this amount, 60.3 million tonnes originated from construction, demolition, and excavation waste, positioning the UK as one of the leaders in recycling rates among major European economies[3].
However, the global utilisation of recycled aggregates remains low, often falling below 10% in many regions. This is attributed to issues such as inconsistent waste quality, the absence of standardised practices, the availability of inexpensive virgin materials, and market reluctance. For the circular economy to thrive, the industry must address challenges related to quality, consistency, and trust—areas that are now at the forefront of technological innovation.
RECONMATIC Online Training Courses: Shape the Future of Construction
The RECONMATIC project aims to tackle the “first-mile problem” by enhancing the quality of demolition waste at the source. By employing multisensor detection, AI model training, and robotic sorting, the system can significantly improve purity levels, reduce contamination, and enhance the consistency of recycled materials.
Now that the project is in its final phase, we have launched a free online training course available to designers, waste managers, policymakers, and anyone interested in circular construction.
The program combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications, helping participants understand environmental impacts, improve resource efficiency, and adopt innovative solutions.
A Fast-Changing Landscape of Materials
Recycled and secondary aggregates are rapidly advancing, particularly in non-structural applications like road construction. Leading global companies such as Heidelberg and Holcim not only operate full-scale construction and demolition waste recycling facilities, but also run their own recycled aggregate production lines, and in some cases even integrate CCUS technologies into their processes.[4].
Companies like Blue Phoenix and OCO are transforming incinerator bottom ash and fly ash into secondary aggregates, some of which are even carbon-negative[5][6].
Research into alternative materials is also expanding. Various teams have experimented with crushed plastics, palm shells, and rice husks as partial replacements for sand. A study conducted by the University of Bath found that substituting 10% of sand with shredded waste plastic in concrete could help mitigate India’s critical shortages of waste management solutions and sand resources[7].
Structural Concrete Continues to Face the Greatest Challenge
High-quality recycled coarse aggregates can effectively replace 20% to 50% of natural stone in structural concrete. However, using recycled fine aggregates presents challenges due to their higher water absorption, greater shrinkage, and increased porosity. These issues can adversely affect the strength and durability of the concrete, limiting its structural applications.
The industry is increasingly turning to manufactured sand, which is produced by mechanically crushing rock. Although manufactured sand offers flexibility and a plentiful supply of raw material, its particles tend to have angular shapes and may perform less effectively than natural sand[8].
Heidelberg is collaborating with Kayasand, a leader in fine-aggregate shaping technology, to establish a plant capable of producing 120 tonnes of sand per hour at the Bass Point quarry in Australia. This facility will utilise a specialised VSI (Vertical Shaft Impactor) system to reshape quarry dust into high-performance sand with precise grading.
This innovation allows manufactured sand to replace up to two-thirds of natural sand, potentially increasing to 100% without compromising the quality of concrete. The plant is set to be completed in 2026[9].
In addition, scientists are exploring low-sand concrete formulations and developing more efficient grinding and recycling methods. However, with global demand for sand continually rising, research and innovation alone are insufficient. The real challenge lies in scaling these technologies and bringing them to market quickly.
Building a mature circular economy will require updated standards, transparent regulations, and market mechanisms that mitigate risks for adopters. Only then can recycled and low-carbon materials become genuinely viable for widespread use.
If policies, markets, and technology can align effectively, future cities may no longer depend on extracting sand from riverbeds and coastlines. Instead, they could rely on materials that we create, recover, and recycle ourselves.
