Did you know sunscreen pollutes the oceans? Its job is to protect us from the sun, but it has a downside too, and one of them is the harm it does to marine life.
That happens because some of these products contain highly damaging chemical components, such as oxybenzone, which damages the genetics of coral.
There are other factors that interfere with our ecosystem and can do serious environmental damage as well.
Want to know more? Read on.
Sunscreen and the damage to the environment
Sunscreen is a delicate subject, and it raises arguments because of the serious risks it poses to marine life. The chemicals reach the sea from the skin of people in the water, or through the sewage system.
After a good deal of research and warnings from scientists, the state government of Hawaii banned the sale of products containing substances such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, on the grounds of the damage they do to the marine ecosystem.
Some of the substances in sunscreen are toxic enough to cause cellular damage and to affect the metabolism of invertebrates such as crustaceans and molluscs.
The effects can do serious harm to algae, bleaching them and, over the long term, killing them. It is not for nothing that 10% of the world’s coral is at risk on account of sunscreen, according to a study led by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Oxybenzone can also cause health problems in fish, marine mammals and sea urchins.
On top of that, according to figures published by National Geographic, around 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen end up on coral reefs in oceans around the world.
Happily, sustainability has become a more present part of our daily lives, as we come to understand how important and how necessary it is, now and later.
Sunscreen and the risks to human health
Anyone who thinks the damage stops at the environment is mistaken. Human health is affected too.
The product can cause hormonal disruption, making it harder to conceive. The active ingredients in sunscreen can stay in the bloodstream for more than seven days and harm a woman’s fertility.
Sunscreens also contain substances that, in frequent contact with the skin and in large quantities, can result in cancer, endocrine disruption, allergies, and liver and kidney failure.
And it does not stop there. Strange as it sounds, the damage sunscreen can do to our skin has been discussed for a long time. It has simply never been as much on the agenda as it is now.
A sustainable alternative: biodegradable sunscreen
One sustainable alternative that keeps those numbers from growing is biodegradable sunscreen. Its base is made of organic active ingredients, which avoids polluting the sea. Much better that way, no?
Organic sunscreens differ from conventional ones in having organic, natural and biodegradable products in the formula, natural oils and essences.
Natural sunscreen protects the skin differently. It sits on the surface of the skin and reflects the sun’s rays, stopping them from doing harm such as burns and cellular damage.
And because it is made of natural substances, when it washes off in the shower or during a good swim in the sea, it will not be aggressive towards marine life.
Which is to say: you can enjoy the summer while respecting both the environment and the health of your skin.
What biodegradable sunscreens are, how they work, and how they are made
Biodegradable sunscreens can be used without worry. Their composition is more clearly described, free of any toxic component, and they still bring plenty of benefits, keeping your skin looking good, hydrated and protected.
As mentioned above, sustainable sunscreen is produced with organic, natural raw materials, containing essential oils that come from nature and are gathered in an ecologically sound way. There is no point in a product being biodegradable if the way it was produced is not sustainable.
“How a product is tested and manufactured has also become an important point for consumers.” Particularly since the release of the short film Save Ralph.
The animation tells the story of a rabbit working at a company that tests cosmetics on him, and what that does to him physically and psychologically. It went viral, and a great many people were moved by finding out how all of it works, and started looking for alternatives.
Biodegradable sunscreen is designed to be sustainable from beginning to end, from production through to the health of whoever uses it. Marine life stays part of the conversation throughout, because using the wrong components affects not just our skin but the whole marine ecosystem.
Biodegradable sunscreen is also considered a physical sunscreen, containing natural substances that form a barrier against the sun’s rays on the body. Unlike chemical sunscreen, which causes reactions and directly affects our hormones and metabolic activity.
Save your skin
Sunscreen is essential, not only in summer but day to day, to look after your health and to prevent the much-feared premature ageing and skin cancer.
With biodegradable sunscreen you get all the protection you need from a product that is safe, does your health no harm and does not pollute the oceans.
That is because it takes out of the formula, entirely, the chemical components whose continued use brought toxic effects: ecamsule, octocrylene, oxybenzone and avobenzone.
Other compounds that may be present are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in microparticle form, which can also do considerable harm to health, since they are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Always look at the label, read the composition carefully, look for information, and choose what is best for your health. Products that protect the skin with natural actives are always the ones to recommend.
The more natural the product, with natural oils and actives, the better it will be for your skin and for the environment.
Where to find biodegradable sunscreen
It sounds hard to adapt, and to find something different from what we are used to and can pick up easily in supermarkets and pharmacies. Strange as it may seem, it is not that complicated.
If you want to take up the idea and buy products that are good for you and for the environment, the trick is to go looking for information.
There are plenty of blogs, institutions, NGOs, news sites and videos out there covering the subject clearly and helpfully, showing where to find these products and how best to use them.
There are already several sunscreens on the market that stand out for being natural, biodegradable and mineral. Some of the brands available in Portugal:
If you still cannot find these products easily, the tip is to go for baby cosmetics, which are mineral and contain fewer toxic chemical additives.
Looking after your own wellbeing is part of being sustainable
If you are still not sure where to begin, I would suggest talking to your dermatologist. Explain that you are looking for a sunscreen that works and that does not harm nature at the same time. They will point you to a biodegradable sunscreen suited to your skin, with the factor you need.
Taking up sustainable products can be a remarkable, transformative experience, one where you see that harming nature is not a condition of looking after yourself. All of it can be done with respect and ecological awareness, and you can be sure your summers will never be the same again.
How about, from now on, thinking twice at the pharmacy or the perfumery, and choosing a sunscreen that is kinder to the environment?
It is an alternative that can make an enormous difference to your wellbeing, and to how you see marine life, and it lets you enjoy the sun without worry, knowing you are protected.
Small actions make an enormous difference to our health and to the place we live in. Share this with your friends and family; I am sure every one of them will thank you for it. 🙂
