In 2021, an urgent issue looms that endangers the planet's stability, yet many remain unaware: the world is running dangerously low on sand.

Sand is integral to countless products, including the glass for windows and screens, paints, kitchenware, tiles, and even computer chips. It serves essential functions, such as filtering water and manufacturing cleaning products, while also constituting 65-75% of industrial concrete.

This vital resource is extracted daily from beaches and riverbeds worldwide, but regulation and replenishment of sand are exceedingly challenging.

Our civilization rests upon a foundation of sand, and that foundation is swiftly diminishing.

Mirjam Mai, an industrial chemist, is dedicated to addressing this global sand crisis through her company, Fibrilex.

According to the UNEP, between 47 and 59 billion tonnes of sand and gravel are extracted annually. Our consumption has tripled over the past two decades, while sand formation takes hundreds, if not millions, of years. Consequently, the current extraction rate makes replenishment unfeasible.

The escalating demand for sand has given rise to a black market, where criminal organizations, often referred to as "sand mafias," engage in violent acts, including the murder of journalists and law enforcement officials. However, most of the time, the sand crisis remains largely unnoticed.

The issue extends beyond mere scarcity; sand extraction devastates coastlines and riverbanks, disrupts ecosystems, and displaces communities. In Cambodia, illegal sand mining is causing homes along the Mekong Delta to be consumed by the river. Even in the United States, sand extraction contributes to environmental degradation and exacerbates flooding, as seen during the 2017 Hurricane Harvey in Houston. Predictions suggest that up to 67% of Southern California's beaches could vanish by 2100 due to sand mining.

The sand crisis is not just an industrial concern; it represents an environmental disaster, a hub of criminal activity, and a human rights violation. The sand castle is collapsing.

Mirjam specializes in engineering solutions for intricate challenges. Throughout her career, she has focused on developing eco-friendly materials, such as carbon fibers derived from wood, biodegradable packaging, and plant-fiber-reinforced car components. Her goal is to create sustainable alternatives using renewable resources.

Her journey began with a childhood interest in solving complex mysteries. Inspired by crime novels, she aspired to become a forensic pathologist, deciphering significant issues from minor clues. However, the low crime rates in Germany made that field less exciting.

Growing up in an industrial town, she was fascinated by the processes involved in creating synthetic rubber and absorbent materials. After earning her bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry, followed by a PhD in biomaterials, she relocated to Canada in 2010 for a post-doctorate in the same field. In 2019, she encountered the sand crisis when a patent from FPInnovations presented a possible solution, albeit one that was not particularly user-friendly.

"Someone ought to tackle this issue," she remarked to a friend.

"You should be the one to do it," her friend, now a mentor, encouraged her, guiding her to resources and accelerators for science-based startups.

This exchange motivated Mirjam to develop Engineered Sand, a product designed to be mixed into a new form of concrete. In 2021, she began testing her prototype at home, ensuring its durability before conducting further engineering in the lab.

Fibrilex is pioneering a process to upgrade sand using renewable binders, enabling concrete manufacturers to utilize sand sourced from dunes and deserts.

Deserts, which cover a third of the Earth's surface, contain vast amounts of sand, yet it has remained underutilized. Traditional sand from seabeds and riverbeds is angular due to water erosion, allowing for strong concrete bonds. In contrast, desert sand is smooth and rounded, making it unsuitable for construction.

Consequently, regions like Texas receive truckloads of river sand and crushed rock, despite already having an abundance of the wrong type of sand.

At the same time, frac sand producers, who mine dune sand, currently face surplus stock due to a downturn in the fracking market. They are eager to find alternative applications for their resources.

Mirjam's innovation involves a process that reconfigures rounded grains of desert sand into a usable format for concrete production. This solution addresses multiple issues: it reduces reliance on ocean and river sand, tapping into vast reserves of previously disregarded desert sand, and allows construction projects in arid regions to utilize locally sourced materials instead of importing them.

Most of Mirjam’s work is conducted remotely. Her small team focuses on grant applications, forging strategic partnerships, sending samples for testing, onboarding trial users, and preparing pitch presentations. Apart from a few quick evening handovers, the three members of Fibrilex have yet to meet in person; their collaboration occurs entirely online.

As an industrial chemist in the male-dominated sand and construction sectors, Mirjam stands out as an entrepreneur.

"In my previous job, I was the sole woman in the company, apart from rotating co-op students," she recalls.

Over time, she adapted to the environment, recognizing that her clientele and advisors were predominantly male. She learned to assert herself in meetings to ensure her voice was heard. Seeking out female peers became essential.

"Male mentors often think differently," Mirjam observes. "They may not understand how family responsibilities uniquely affect women. They can attend meetings and work extended hours, while I do not have a partner to manage household tasks. Navigating gender roles in 2021 remains challenging, and I appreciate female mentors who remind me that it's okay to progress at my own pace."

Interestingly, all three members of Fibrilex are women. "It's merely a coincidence," she remarks, but it reflects a trend when women take charge.

As Mirjam transitions to full-time work with Fibrilex, she aims to grow her team and attract investment partners, with hopes of one day being acquired by a larger company. With adequate funding and support, her sand-modifying technology has the potential to revolutionize construction and address numerous challenges simultaneously.

Contemplating the sand crisis can induce anxiety, prompting questions about the sustainability of our coastlines and riverbeds and the future appearance of our planet.

Yet, in Mirjam’s perspective, solutions may lie in the minutiae rather than grand schemes. Perhaps the key to addressing this monumental challenge is found in individual grains of sand, not the expansive landscapes. And perhaps, the answer has always been evident — in the minor details rather than the broader picture. Thus, the call to action is clear: it’s time to get to work.