The temptation to bring home a little sand as a travel souvenir from your favorite beach as a vacation souvenir is great. After all, it’s cheaper, more personal, and supposedly more environmentally friendly than a souvenir from the store. But here are a few reasons why it’s better to leave it behind. IMAGE: davidraynisley | Pixabay

Legal reasons: There are many countries, such as Thailand, Egypt, and Italy, where it is strictly forbidden to bring sand. In Sardinia, for example, breaking the law can result in a fine of 500-3000 euros. While it is generally allowed in other countries, such as Germany and Croatia, there are other good reasons not to do so.

Sand as an exhaustible resource: As the Business Insider reported in 2018, we humans consume far more sand than the world can “re-produced.” About 50 billion tons a year! It’s used for microchips, cosmetics, medicine, concrete and more, and comes primarily from the bottom of rivers, lakes, and oceans. As a result, beaches around the world are shrinking, and some areas are even importing sand to counteract this.

Environmental impact: Sandy beaches provide habitat for various species, including breeding birds, sea turtles, and plants specially adapted to salty conditions. Removal of sand affects their reproduction and ability to find food, and thus the ecosystem itself. In addition, dunes and sandy beaches are natural barriers against storm surges and can mitigate the effects of natural disasters. A protective effect that is naturally compromised by their erosion.   

What do you end up doing with the sand? Sure, it’s a nice idea to keep some sand from your favorite beach as a souvenir. But do you really need another (useless) “dust collector” in your home? Especially considering its potential environmental impact?

And while one jar of sand may not seem like much, it can quickly add up when multiplied by millions of tourists. So, we would recommend to just leave it behind and consider other souvenirs instead.

Here are a few ideas on how you can capture your travel memories in a lasting way:

Six ideas for keeping your travel memories alive