Protecting Our Coral Reefs
The Importance of Reef-Friendly Sunscreen
What steps are you taking to protect our amazing planet?
There are so many small things we can each do. Some easy ways you may be familiar with and participate in are not littering or picking up litter when you see it, recycling, composting, and saving rainwater to water gardens. Today, I would like to talk about reef-friendly sunscreen.
My journey with reef-friendly sunscreen began when I immersed myself in the beauty of the southern Florida Keys a year ago. It was the only sunscreen available at the grocery stores I frequented, a testament to its importance for the delicate ecosystem there.
Why Reef-Friendly Sunscreen Is Essential
Many of the chemicals in traditional sunscreens are harmful to coral reef ecosystems. They bleach coral and impair the growth of green algae, which is essential for the ocean food chain. Approximately 4–6,000 tons of sunscreen wash off into oceans worldwide each year.
The world’s ocean temperatures are continuing to rise at alarming rates. If you have been to the Florida Keys in the past couple of years, you know the water is roughly 87 degrees in the summer and 71 degrees in the winter. Warm water may seem…
