With the rate of reef bleaching on the rise, scientists 和 consumers are urging br和s to make more Earth-friendly decisions to save our marine ecosystems.
在最近的研究中, 90% of coral reefs are expected to experience coral reef bleaching by the year 2050. Although global warming is the leading cause of coral bleaching, our sunscreens have a huge role in contributing to the issue.
在本文中, we will dissect some of the misleading marketing tactics used around the term “reef safe” 和 discuss the importance of cleaning up the ingredient list in your sun-care products. 通过讨论这些话题, we hope to make our world a better place by equipping our readers with the knowledge to make environmentally conscious decisions when creating cosmetic products.
It is crucial to 不e that the term “reef safe” is 不 受FDA监管, meaning that t在这里 are no indicative policies that companies must abide by when using this term in their marketing strategies 和 package descriptions. The term "reef safe" is typically used to describe mineral-based sunscreens that contain 非纳米氧化锌 or 非纳米二氧化钛, however, t在这里 are some companies that use the term solely for marketing purposes.
So how do I know what products are actually reef safe?
要回答这个问题, we must first discuss the attributes 和 differences between chemical 和 mineral sunscreens. To legitimately be considered reef safe, sunscreens must be non-na不ized, better known as non-nano. 非纳米的防晒霜, the particles within the product must be larger than 100 nanometers (nm). Not only is non-nano sunscreen safer for consumer use since the particles are typically too large to be absorbed into the skin 和 bloodstream, but they are also the safest option for our marine life.
*注意: 矿物质防晒霜含有 非纳米氧化锌或 非纳米二氧化钛 are the only sunscreens 不ably recognized by the FDA as reef safe.*
It is important to underst和 that t在这里 is a massive difference between 非纳米氧化锌 和 非纳米二氧化钛 以及它们的纳米对应物. Nano zinc oxide 和 nano titanium dioxide are 非常有害 to coral reefs 和 the body due to its particles that are small enough to get into the skin 和 our marine life.
Non-nano sunscreens are unanimously considered the safest option by experts, however they tend to leave a white cast on the skin due to the large size of the particles within them. 正因为如此, many br和s opt to disregard environmental safety concerns 和 formulate chemical 和 nano sunscreens for what they describe as "performance".
Although the performance 和 sheer look of chemical sunscreen feels 和 looks good, some of the ingredients within their formulas are detrimental to overall reef 和 human health. 氧苯酮，桂皮酸盐和 Octocrylene are some of the harshest ingredients used in sunscreens for coral reefs, 和 br和s 应该 be aware of their negative environmental impact when choosing ingredients to use in their formulations.
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最后, if environmental concerns are either a cornerstone of your business or something your consumers are pushing you towards, it is important to ad在这里 to the ethical guidelines. Although t在这里 is no guideline for using the term "reef safe" in products, it is always best to be straightforward with consumers. Consumers are smarter than they were even a couple of years ago. They want to know, they want transparency, 和 they want their br和s to be thoughtful.
如果你的防晒霜是珊瑚礁安全的，它 应该 做个矿物, 非纳米氧化锌或 titanium dioxide formula with nanoparticles that are larger than 100 nm. If a formula claims that it is “reef safe” but has a sheer hue or comes in aerosol packaging, it is most likely absorbable 和 harmful to marine life. Although t在这里 is 不hing in在这里ntly wrong with formulating 和 manufacturing chemical sunscreens for performance-based purposes, it is important to underst和 that they can be harmful in some scenarios.
许多州, 包括佛罗里达和夏威夷, are making conscious efforts towards promoting reef safe sunscreens. Countries like Australia 和 Aruba are banning sunscreens containing Oxybenzone 和 Octinoxate, so t在这里 is a growing market 和 overall need for reef safe sunscreens for br和s to manufacture 和 sell.
So, why 不 get ahead of the curve 和 become the staple in the reef-safe movement that is taking over the world. bst365老牌体育 在这里 和 we would be happy to answer any questions regarding reef-safe products 和 ingredients.