Amanda WeeThe cost of beauty is mother nature. In recent years, it has been brought to our attention that the environmental impact of this 500 billion dollar industry is stretched beyond its plastic packaging, natural ingredients, and production methods. And one silent killer is the sunscreen.
Many are unaware that sunscreen products contain Oxybenzone. This chemical, when absorbed by corals, causes a disruption to their reproduction and growth cycle that eventually leads to coral bleaching.
Anyone is susceptible to contribute to this contamination, as sunscreen contains nanoparticles that are easily passed on from human to corals through water and sand. Coral bleaching aggravates other environmental problems such as ocean acidification, water pollution, and coral diseases, which further hinders in the survival rate of corals.
Despite these alarming facts, there are still more than (1) 3,500 beauty products containing this harmful ingredient, putting coral reefs under threat. In fact, (2) scientists predict that if this continues, all corals could disappear completely by 2070.
However, all is not lost. Parallel to the negative effects experienced by the earth, is also, a rise in awareness. Beauty brands and consumers are doing their part to save the ocean.
For example, ETVOS is a beauty brand reputable for its reef-friendly sunscreen products. They recently held their first social media campaign in May, providing social media users a platform to do their part to save the ocean from the comfort of their home. All one had to do was to upload, share, or like posts with the hashtag #エトヴォスと海を守ろう (Protecting the ocean with ETVOS). Once the campaign reaches 2020 participants, ETVOS will donate 40 coral reef seedlings to NPO Churami Shinkokai, to be planted in Okinawa.
It is reassuring to know that beauty brands are stepping up with their engagement in sustainable initiatives and the development of reef-friendly products. Needless to say, there is still more work to be done, but every effort goes a long way, and the direction taken by the beauty industry is slowly pathing its way to give back to the environment.
