The Unsustainable Use of Sand: Reporting on a Global Problem

Walter Leal Filho, Julian Hunt, Alexandros Lingos, Johannes Platje, Lara Werncke Vieira, Markus Will and Marius Dan Gavriletea
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Walter Leal Filho: European School of Sustainability Science and Research, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, D-21033 Hamburg, Germany
Julian Hunt: Energy Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
Alexandros Lingos: European School of Sustainability Science and Research, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, D-21033 Hamburg, Germany
Johannes Platje: WSB University in Wroclaw, ul. Fabryczna 29-31, 53-609 Wroclaw, Poland
Lara Werncke Vieira: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul—UFRGS, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
Markus Will: Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, Theodor-Körner-Allee 16, D-02763 Zittau, Germany
Marius Dan Gavriletea: Business Faculty, Babeş-Bolyai University, Horea 7, 400038 Cluj–Napoca, Romania

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: Sand is considered one of the most consumed natural resource, being essential to many industries, including building construction, electronics, plastics, and water filtration. This paper assesses the environmental impact of sand extraction and the problems associated with its illegal exploitation. The analysis indicates that extracting sand at a greater rate than that at which it is naturally replenished has adverse consequences for fauna and flora. Further, illicit mining activities compound environmental damages and result in conflict, the loss of taxes/royalties, illegal work, and losses in the tourism industry. As sea-level rise associated with climate change threatens coastal areas, sand in coastal areas will play an increasingly greater role in determining the amount of damage from floods and erosion. The present analysis points to the need for swift action to regulate sand mining, monitoring, law enforcement, and international cooperation.

Keywords: sustainability; sand depletion; illegal sand mining; environmental impacts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3356-:d:519718

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