Sand forms the foundation of modern society as the world’s most consumed natural resource on the planet besides water. Yet, the natural sand is not infinite and some unregulated mining activities are causing severe environmental impacts and social risks. In the context of rapid urbanization, the world is facing a pressing natural sand crisis. This is particularly relevant for China, which accounts for nearly half of the world’s sand consumption. Hence, how to meet the booming sand demand while reducing natural sand mining has emerged as a paramount challenge for both China and other countries.

A recent study published in Nature Geoscience, provides novel quantitative evidence to showcase China’s effective strategies in addressing such a natural sand crisis. Through the material flow analysis of China’s sand flow from mining to final use, this study finds China’s overall sand supply has surged by approximately 400% during 1995-2020, yet the proportion of natural sand mining dropped from ~80% to ~21% due to the increasing use of manufactured sand. From 2010 to 2020, China’s natural sand supply nearly halved due to the strict policies on natural sand mining and the promotion of manufactured sand in final usage. The shift towards manufactured sand could help mitigate the environmental impacts associated with natural sand mining, such as habitat destruction, riverbank erosion, and loss of biodiversity.

In response to previous concerns, this analysis of China’s pathways suggests that the rapid depletion of natural sand deposits can be avoided through a shift from natural sand to manufactured sand. In the meanwhile, China’s experience offers valuable insights for sustainable sand management, particularly for developing economies undergoing urbanization, which will probably fuel future demand for sand.

This study is conducted by an international research team, from the Institute of Urban Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Northeastern University, CSIRO, Reichman University, Leiden University, University of Bristol, Chongqing University, Tongji University, Michigan State University, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other institutions.

The transition from natural sand to manufactured sand in China’s sand supply (Image by WANG Heming, WANG Peng, and CHEN Wei-Qiang)

Contacts:CHEN Weiqiang

E-mail：wqchen@iue.ac.cn

Nature Geoscience

link:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01501-6