Manufactured sand as a solution to global sand shortage?

Global demand for construction materials, particularly sand and gravel, is set to increase significantly in the coming years. This trend, combined with the unsustainable extraction of natural sand in many regions, is creating substantial environmental problems and threatening future availability.

The excessive and often unregulated extraction of natural sand from rivers and marine environments causes erosion along coastlines and in riverbeds, impacts water quality, and threatens marine life. Although sand is the second most abundant natural resource after water, ensuring its sustainable use is a global challenge.

Metso Oyj suggests that manufactured sand, produced by crushing bedrock, offers a solution to this shortage. Manufactured sand can achieve better grain size distribution and shape, improving concrete properties, for example. While the production process consumes energy, it allows for on-site production close to demand, reducing transportation costs and environmental impact.

Manufactured sand can also utilize surplus materials from mining and quarrying operations that would otherwise be considered waste. This reduces waste disposal costs and transforms the material into a valuable construction resource. Metso's technologies, such as cone and impact crushers, enable the production of high-quality manufactured sand for various construction applications.