2025/02/01 by Takuma Watari, Catrin Böcher, André Baumgart +2 · 1 voice
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Geological formations and processes #Soil erosion and sediment transport #Aeolian processes and effects
paper · doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101197
Sand is increasingly recognized as the physical foundation of our modern world. With a growing population and rapid urbanization, global demand for sand has surged. However, our understanding of how much sand we use, the applications it serves, where it originates, and how much is recovered at the end of its life cycle remains surprisingly limited. In this primer, we outline how sand flows and stocks can be systematically tracked throughout the economy using material flow analysis (MFA). By explaining the concepts and mechanisms of a system definition, we illustrate how flow-driven and stock-driven MFA approaches can track sand dynamics in the economy. We further provide a working example to demonstrate the estimation of sand flows and stocks through global construction aggregates. More transparent and robust monitoring systems are needed to sustainably manage this vital yet often overlooked resource.