Not all sunscreens are friends of the sea.
Recent studies have shown that Benzophenone-3 (BP-3; Oxybenzone), an ingredient in sunscreen lotions and personal care products, which protects against the damaging effects of ultraviolet light, contributes to the coral bleaching and reef strain, as it disrupts coral reproduction and growth. According to these studies, even small doses of Oxybenzone – about a drop in six and a half Olympic swimming pools – damage coral.
According to both U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) andEU regulation, even sunscreens marked as “water-resistant” can lose 50 percent of their sun protection factor after 40-minute bathing.Consumers are increasingly concerned about the potential impact of UV creams on coral reef and the marine ecosystem. Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreen containing the coral-
harming chemicals.
Friend of the Sea has developed a standard for the certification of sustainable and reef-safe UV
creams to help consumers make responsible choices.