Cousteau Foundation Names Ideal Sunscreen

Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society recently named Reef Safe SunCare by Beach Buff as the ideal sunscreen for both humans and ocean creatures.

Researchers estimate that 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of toxic sunscreen washes off swimmers into the oceans every year. Chemicals such as Octocrylene, Butylparaben, Octylmethoxycinnamate, and Benzophenone-3; present in non-biodegradable sunscreen brands, accumulate in the oceans (Environment911). These chemicals do not break down easily and are harmful to marine life, especially coral reefs.

Before receiving Cousteau’s approval, Reef Safe sunscreens were subjected to a comprehensive series of independent laboratory tests to support and authenticate the biodegradability of the lotions. The research found that Reef Safe SunCare products biodegrade, on average, less than 90 days in seawater and freshwater. No evidence of toxicity to micro organisms and other sea life was detected.

Research also found that Reef Safe’s waterproof formula allows less than three percent of the product to come off in water, which compares favorably to the estimated 25 percent of mass-market brand lotions that come off in water.

Because it was chosen as the Official SunCare of Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society, Reef Safe will donate a portion of every bottle sold to support Ocean Futures’ worldwide efforts of preserving the ocean for future generations.

“If more companies showed their commitment to our environment and made enlightened choices as Reef Safe has, we would have a much better world on which to live,” said Jean-Michel Cousteau, President and Founder of Ocean Futures Society. “Our scientific team will continue to work with Reef Safe to broaden ongoing tests of the products on a wide range of sea life.”

Did you know that sunscreen could be harmful to sea life? Share your thoughts or questions in a comment!

Also Check Out:
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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

KS G.

4:16AM PST on Feb 22, 2012

Thanks for the article.

send a green star

Nick M.

11:36AM PDT on Jul 10, 2011

It is always good to hear that we are moving towards products that do not hurt the environment and still have the pleasant effects that we desire :)

Amanda S.

6:26AM PDT on Jul 8, 2011

This is great news! To answer some comments above - I did some research and Susan S. is completely right - it's the way that the chemicals or compounds are combined that make the difference, and I was paying attention in Chem class. ;-) I went on to their website and they have their testing results for customers to see, something I've never seen any company do before. I also did a search on the above comments on the ingredients used saying they are bad and it's junk science like people telling us eggs were bad for us and now they are good for you. My husband is an avid Redditer and found out that the EWG is nothing more than a lobbying group in DC and they don't even test the products they claim are good for you. No thanks, I think I'll go and order my sunscreens from a company that actually posts their testing. I'm excited to get my products in the mail, can't wait to use them when we go to the lake this weekend.

Rachel M.

3:20AM PDT on Jul 7, 2011

It is important to use sunscreen that uses not synthetic but mineral protection against the sun. It is instantly effective and always water-resistant. Like from the German brand Lavera http://lavera.de/beratung_sonnenschutz0.html?&L=0 . It is one of the best sun screens on the market, it doesn not leave a white film on the skin as it used to and many other mineral sun screens do. It is natural, organic cosmetics by the way.

Helen A.

7:54AM PDT on Jul 6, 2011

thanks

Past Member .

11:07PM PDT on May 22, 2011

Noted.

Robert O.

1:15PM PDT on Mar 24, 2011

Thanks.

Tila G.

4:21AM PST on Feb 26, 2011

The idea of knowing the contents/ingredients of one's sunscreen is good and absolutely beneficial to our bodies, as well as to bodies of water... as indicated in the article saying that so much of the sunscreen being used and sold in the market, "pollute the water" because of the contents that are not biodegradable... not to mention detrimental to fish and corals. It's a positive to be more discriminating with what one applies to his or her body. Congratulations to Costeau Foundation and Reef Safe sunscreen!

Angela T.

7:14PM PST on Feb 20, 2011

Time to get some of that sunscreen..I never had thought about how sunscreen affects marine life.

Maggie O.

7:13PM PST on Feb 17, 2011

Looks and sounds great! plus its reasonably priced:)