The construction industry is the largest consumer of Sand globally. Sand is a fundamental component in concrete, asphalt, mortar, and other construction materials. As urbanization continues and infrastructure projects expand, the demand for sand increases. The rapid growth of cities and urban areas, particularly in developing countries, has led to a surge in sand consumption. Sand is required for constructing buildings, roads, bridges, and other urban infrastructure.

Sand is primarily extracted from riverbeds, coastal areas, and quarries. However, the extraction of sand can have significant environmental consequences. Unregulated and unsustainable sand mining can lead to habitat destruction, alteration of river channels, erosion of riverbanks, and loss of biodiversity. It can also impact water quality and cause sedimentation problems. The construction industry is a major driver of sand consumption. As populations increase, cities expand, and infrastructure projects multiply, the demand for sand rises accordingly. Growing economies and urbanization in countries like China, India, and other developing nations have contributed significantly to the increased consumption of sand.

Sand is often considered a finite resource despite its abundant availability. This is because not all types of sand are suitable for construction purposes. Construction-grade sand requires specific properties, such as proper particle size distribution, strength, and cleanliness. Unsuitable types of sand, such as desert sand or marine sand with high salt content, cannot be used for most construction applications without extensive processing. In some regions, sand shortages have emerged due to high demand, limited availability, and environmental concerns. This has led to the emergence of illegal sand mining and illicit sand trade in certain areas, where sand is extracted and traded outside of regulatory frameworks. Illegal sand mining exacerbates environmental degradation and poses social and economic challenges.

Efforts are being made to find alternative materials or methods to reduce reliance on sand. For example, the use of recycled materials, such as crushed concrete or crushed glass, as partial replacements for sand in certain applications is being explored. The total annual consumption of sand in the world is approximately 53 billion tons, if we consider this figure for people on the planet, each person uses 20 kilograms of sand daily. Due to the rapid growth of urbanization as well as economic growth in East Asia, the demand for buying sand has increased, so that since the beginning of 2000, China has used more sand than America every three years, and this amount of use is more than the entire century. It was the twentieth century.

Sand is mined all over the world and accounts for the largest volume of solids mined worldwide. These materials, created by erosional processes over thousands of years (John, 2009), are now being extracted at a rate far exceeding their renewal. Sand is the only commodity that has the largest volume among Minerals and metals. About 85% of the materials extracted from mines are gravel, sand, or a combination of these materials. Sand is the most widely used material after water and is used in almost every construction process, it is even used in toothpaste.

There is no control over it despite the mining activities becoming bigger and turning commodities into a commercial commodity with a large volume. According to the report of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 2014, the consumption of sand is estimated between 47 and 59 billion tons, which is based on the statement of the representative of this organization. We can tell from the Cement consumption to the sand used. Each ton of cement requires 6 to 7 times the amount of sand production.

Recognizing the environmental impact of sand mining, several countries and organizations are promoting sustainable sand management practices. Efforts include implementing regulations and guidelines for sand extraction, promoting the use of alternative materials, encouraging recycling and reuse of construction materials, and investing in research and development of sustainable construction practices. The issue of sand consumption and its environmental impact has gained international attention. Organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are working to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable sand management and advocate for better sand governance at the global level.

Sand is used extensively in land reclamation projects, especially in coastal areas. It is used to create new landmasses, expand existing coastlines, and restore eroded beaches. Sand is utilized in various manufacturing industries, such as Glass production, foundries, ceramics, and electronics. These industries require specific types of sand with particular characteristics. The increasing demand for sand has raised concerns about its extraction and environmental impact. Sand mining can lead to habitat destruction, riverbank erosion, groundwater depletion, and damage to ecosystems. In response, some countries have implemented regulations and restrictions on sand mining.