Environmental factors including climate change and pollution are slowly eroding the health of the coral reefs around the world, which is causing an affect on the health of our oceans.
Some ingredients in sunscreen are also being linked to damaging the coral reef system, many popular travel destinations are starting to ban the use of “non reef safe” sunscreen.
What makes a sunscreen “non reef safe”? The key ingredients that you DON’T want are oxybenzone and octinoxate; but recent research has shown that there may be others that are damaging.
What can you do? There are lotions and sprays that do not contain those 2 ingredients, which we carry in the store, so if you need to use sunscreen these are a great option.
Are there any other options? There is also UPF50 clothing; rash guards, leggings and full body suits, that give you great sun protection, can add a bit of warmth, and won’t cause damage to the reefs and oceans. Some brands, like Fourth Element, even use sustainable fabric made with 100% recycled nylon from ghost fishing nets and other discarded waste. These recycled fabrics have even proven to be more resistant to chlorine, suntan creams and oils.
What about our local lakes? The ingredients that are known to damage the reefs have not yet been linked to any damage in our local water systems.