The world is running out of sand? 

Sand is a crucial material for building things like houses, roads, and glass. However, using too much sand without proper control is causing serious problems like erosion, flooding, and damage to coastal defenses. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is working with Kenyan poet Beatrice Kariuki to bring attention to the issues related to sand mining and promote a zero waste world.

In a new video, Kariuki emphasizes the importance of finding new ways to use materials wisely, stating, “We must redouble our efforts to build a circular economy, and take rubble to build structures anew. Because without new thinking, the sands of time will run out.” Sand is the second most-used resource on Earth, and its extraction is causing environmental problems. Every year, about 50 billion tons of sand are taken for construction, equivalent to building a nine-story wall around the entire planet.

A 2022 report from UNEP, titled "Sand and Sustainability: 10 Strategic Recommendations to Avert a Crisis," reveals that sand extraction is increasing by about 6 percent annually, which is considered unsustainable. The report calls for sand to be recognized as a strategic resource and for a rethinking of its extraction and use.

Building on UNEP research from 2019, the report highlights the environmental impact of growing sand demand, causing river pollution, flooding, aquifer depletion, and droughts. UNEP suggests solutions, such as creating legal frameworks for sand extraction, developing a circular economy for sand and building materials, accurately mapping and monitoring sand resources, and restoring ecosystems damaged by sand mining.

The report also recommends recycling construction materials from demolition sites and exploring the potential of ore-sand, a by-product of mineral processing, as ways to reduce the need for new sand while contributing to global circular economy goals.