Video

Vertical gardens: a real solution or just a sustainable illusion?

You have most likely seen buildings with plants on their façades. They stand out. They look modern, sustainable, and full of benefits. But does this really work? Or is it just another trend that looks good but comes with many problems?

This type of project has grown in recent years. It tries to bring nature back into cities. After decades dominated by concrete, glass, and steel, we are starting to see a shift.

But placing plants on building façades is not simple. And it is not always sustainable.

The problem behind the aesthetics

There are different ways to add vegetation to buildings. Some are simple, like climbing plants. Others are more complex, such as green walls with automated irrigation systems. But the most ambitious approach is the vertical forest. In this model, real trees grow on balconies designed specifically for that purpose.

This idea sounds revolutionary. But it requires much more structural support, constant maintenance, energy consumption, and materials with high carbon emissions. The building needs reinforcement. Costs are high, maintenance requires specialists, and there are risks such as falling branches, pests, fire hazards, and technical failures.

Is it worth it?

In some cases, yes. In others, no. The real impact depends on the project, the local climate, the choice of plant species, the structural system, and how everything is maintained over the years.

This practice also raises other questions. These include the environmental impact of construction, the cost of keeping these plants alive, and the risk of turning nature into something elitist.

Want to understand the different types of green façades, their cost, risks, and benefits?

Watch our full video on the topic and explore in detail whether vertical forests really work or are just another gimmick.

Disclaimer: The video is in Brazilian Portuguese, but simultaneous translation and subtitles are available in multiple languages.

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Video

What holds cities up also destroys rivers!

Sand is an essential input for the construction industry. It is present in the reinforced concrete that supports buildings, roads, and urban infrastructure.

Brazil consumes millions of tons of sand every year. But a large share of this material comes from illegal sources. According to data from Agência Brasil, 58% of the sand extracted in the country in 2023 did not comply with the law.

Illegal extraction has become the rule, not the exception

This sand is removed without licenses, without environmental control, and without respect for protected areas. The illegal market moves up to R$ 20 billion per year (US$3.6 billion).

Rather than being an isolated deviation, this activity has become part of the construction sector’s structure. And it happens across different regions of the country, using different strategies:

• In Rio de Janeiro, militias control extraction areas and use violence to maintain the business;

• In São Paulo, companies use document fraud to legalize illegal shipments;

• In the Northeast, sand is taken from dunes and coastal scrublands, fragile ecosystems that protect the coastline.

The impact goes beyond the environment

Illegal river dredging affects soil stability, groundwater, and water quality. It can cause erosion, flooding, and even bridge collapse.

Sand extraction also increases river turbidity, blocking sunlight and harming aquatic life. This reduces fishing activity and threatens the livelihoods of riverine communities.

In addition, there is labor under conditions analogous to slavery. Many workers live without sanitation, clean drinking water, and in makeshift shelters.

The state cannot properly enforce regulations

The National Mining Agency (ANM) faces budget cuts and reduced staff. In 2024 and 2025, several inspections were suspended due to a lack of resources.

This means that many extraction sites operate without any oversight. And with illegal sand being sold using “laundered” invoices, it becomes almost impossible to distinguish illegal material from legal supply.

The structural problem

Illegal sand artificially lowers construction costs. This benefits public and private projects, without consumers knowing where the material comes from.

It functions as a hidden foundation of today’s urban development. But this foundation is unstable. And it is already threatening the country’s environmental and urban safety.

Want to understand how the sand mafia operates in Brazil?

Watch our full video on the topic to learn about the impacts and the mechanisms behind this illegal market!

Disclaimer: The video is in Brazilian Portuguese, but simultaneous translation and subtitles are available in multiple languages.