Global Glass Supply Shortages
The global glass shortage has become increasingly apparent, impacting various countries, including the United States. There is, at the root of glass supply as a raw material, a shortage of silica, also known as industrial sand. The North American construction market uses around 50 billion tons of sand each year and global usage has tripled in the last 20 years. Extraction and usage far exceed the natural rate at which sand is replenished by the weathering of rocks. There isn’t enough available to meet this demand. Coastal sand as opposed to desert sand is needed for structural glass production and rising sea levels due to global warming add another pressure point on this resource.
The reasons behind this shortage are multifaceted. First, there’s increased demand for glass due to home renovation projects and construction. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted glass production, affecting supply chains worldwide. Additionally, the supply of glass relies on a complex global network, making shortages pervasive. As a result, construction projects face delays, and homeowners and businesses struggle to obtain materials for window repairs and replacements. The shortage’s ripple effects extend to various industries, including construction, where long lead times for windows pose challenges. It’s impact remains significant, emphasizing the critical role glass plays in our modern world.
However, it also highlights how much impact modern architecture has, which is heavily reliant on silica in glass and concrete, and why alternative building materials like stone might be better options, given the shortages.
Read more in the following article: https://dynamicfenestration.com/update-global-glass-supply-and-demand-the-impact-on-architectural-projects-in-north-america/#:~:text=Causes%20of%20glass%20supply%20shortages,in%20the%20last%2020%20years.