Sand is everywhere in cities: it’s in the pillars of skyscrapers, the surfaces of roads and the walls of our homes. But sand—specifically river and beach sand needed for building—is running out, and without it the construction industry faces a crisis.
In this video we explore how a fresh framework for thinking about construction and the economy could help to combat the sand crisis and preserve the value of materials for decades to come. A circular model would mean less sand ending up in landfill, less energy wasted during construction and a more sustainable industry that benefits businesses and the planet.
This economic transformation will require collaboration between industry, government and academia—if we are to sustain our sandcastle cities into the future.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.