If a product is certified, we as customers and consumers have the certainty that it meets certain standards and norms. We then know that we can use the product without hesitation and that special criteria that are particularly important to us are met. Certifications are particularly common in the cosmetics sector. They refer, for example, to animal welfare, the absence of microplastics or the protection of reefs. Reef-friendly sunscreen is no longer a rarity, and that is a good thing, because conventional sunscreen has a fatal effect on our coral reefs. This is mainly due to the UV filters it contains. Normally, however, a corresponding certification is very time-consuming and cost-intensive for the cosmetics supplier. He has to sign a contract with the provider of the seal he wants and is then allowed to submit his formulation. This is strictly checked, and the seal provider may repeatedly ask about the raw materials used. This information must in turn be obtained from the raw material supplier. The whole process usually takes several months. And what businessman can afford such a long wait these days? That is why we at Cosmacon offer our own certificate, for which we have defined a much simpler and shorter processing procedure. This way, reef-friendly sun protection can become even more popular in the future. But first let's clarify why reef-friendly sun protection is so important.
Reef-friendly sunscreen as an alternative to conventional products
Coral reefs are among the most species-rich ecosystems of all. Although they cover just 0.1 per cent of our planet, they are home to 25 per cent of all marine life. They are a safe place for these creatures to grow and thrive in peace. They also protect the coasts from so-called monster waves and from erosion, because they form a kind of protective wall. In recent decades, however, the condition of our coral reefs has deteriorated drastically. Causes include global warming and environmental pollution. Many experts are now certain that the two UV filters octinoxate (INCI: ehylhexyl methoxycinnamate) and oxybenzone (INCI: benzophenone-3), which are contained in countless sunscreens worldwide, contribute massively to the destruction of coral reefs by bleaching them and promoting their death. Oxybenzone is considered particularly aggressive. It damages DNA, can deform cells, disrupt the growth of young corals and even kill entire coral colonies. And this even in a vanishingly small amount: if you were to put just a single drop of oxybenzone into a 50-metre water tank, it would demonstrably have a devastating effect on the corals in it. Considering that up to 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen enter our oceans every year, it is also no wonder that the reefs suffer.
Hawaii has therefore enacted a specific law to protect coral reefs.
The Hawaiian Reef Act stipulates that sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate may no longer be sold in Hawaii or in some other US states. Instead, only reef-friendly sunscreen is allowed there. The law came into force at the beginning of 2021. But what exactly is reef-friendly sunscreen?
Reef-friendly sunscreen: What makes it reef-friendly?
Reef-friendly sunscreen is either biodegradable or free of the UV filters mentioned above. If you use it on your next visit to the sea, you are making a valuable contribution to the protection of coral reefs in the world's oceans. Since ecological awareness is becoming more and more firmly anchored in the minds of consumers, the demand for corresponding products is also increasing more and more. If you as a cosmetics supplier would like to offer your target group products with the certification of reef-friendly sun protection, we at Cosmacon can support you in this. We have developed our own certification for which all raw materials are carefully tested by an independent safety assessor. You are of course allowed to use the seal for your products after the test. The entire process only takes a maximum of ten working days at Cosmacon. We only charge you a one-time fee of 250 euros for this. Take advantage of this opportunity, because reef-friendly sun protection is becoming more and more popular with consumers!
Reef-friendly sun protection with independent certification from Cosmacon
At Cosmacon, we don't waste time ensuring that your reef-friendly sunscreen receives a reputable certification. The inspection is carried out according to scientific criteria, the entire process takes place without annoying waiting times and hidden costs. Of course, we are available to answer all kinds of questions in the run-up to and during the certification process. Just get in touch with us: So that reef-friendly sun protection can contribute even more to the protection of our reefs in the future.