![]() ![]() The suspect ingredients alone aren’t to blame for the depletion of coral-a 2020 report from the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network estimates 14% of the world’s coral has been lost since 2009-and brands skeptical of the “reef-safe” tag argue that singling them out could stave off broader actions to diminish the beauty industry’s deleterious impacts on the earth by brands that determine they’ve done enough.Įven Downs acknowledges the reasons for poor coral reef health are multifaceted. In a blog post delving into studies on sunscreen and coral reef destruction, Michelle Wong, the science educator and cosmetic chemist known as Lab Muffin, writes, “There isn’t any solid evidence of sunscreens having caused harm to coral reefs.”Īnd brands assert the “reef-safe” claim seemingly lets sunscreen purveyors off the hook for environmental degradation resulting from ingredients besides oxybenzone and octinoxate in their formulas, not to mention packaging, sourcing and manufacturing. Questions about the research that instigated Hawaii’s law factor into many of their concerns. Troubled by the rise in “reef-safe” marketing, a growing number of brands, including Babo Botanicals and Tropic Labs, have concluded the rush to the claim has overcorrected. Cain says, “Mineral leads ingredient searches as the most frequently searched and the ingredient with the most significant positive change in average monthly search volume since last year.” There are 131,700 average monthly searches for mineral, up 3.6% year-over-year. Also, searches for mineral sunscreens relying on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide-ingredients allowed under Hawaii’s regulatory framework-have increased. In the year ended March, Spate data shows average monthly searches for “reef safe” jumped 14.9% from the prior year to 39,300. Addison Cain, beauty strategy and innovation manager at consumer insights firm Spate, says, “’Reef safe’ is one of the top five claims by increase in average monthly search volume, meaning it’s driving change in the sunscreen conversation.” Excluding SPF claims, she adds, “’Reef safe’ ranks within the top three benefits by average monthly search volume.” Babo Botanicals, a Mustela-owned brand with mineral sunscreens available at Whole Foods, Target, Thrive Market, Ulta Beauty and more retailers, has moved away from putting the term “reef-friendly” on its products and launched a campaign challenging the beauty industry’s use of the “reef-safe” claim. Sunscreen brands and retailers are responding to shoppers’ interest. “We love the reef!” proclaims Blue Lizard in a description of its SPF 50+ Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion They mix in the terms “reef-friendly” and “Hawaii-compliant” or convey that they don’t contain oxybenzone and octinoxate in order to protect coral reefs. Not all the brands use the “reef-safe” claim specifically. ![]() Today, a search for “reef-safe sunscreen” on Target’s website turns up 365 products from brands such as Sun Bum, Neutrogena, Blue Lizard, Banana Boat, Alba Botanica and Raw Elements. ![]() Virgin Islands, Key West, Palau, Aruba and more jurisdictions have passed their own versions of the legislation-sparked a proliferation of “reef-safe” products without the banned ingredients and consumers hunting for them to do their part for the environment. Motivated by biologist Craig Downs’ research connecting oxybenzone to destructive coral bleaching, the bill and others like it-U.S. In 2018, then Hawaii governor David Ing signed into law a bill banning the sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate from the state three years later. ![]()
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