Why is it important to be reef friendly?
There are 82,000 different chemicals from skincare products that make their way into our oceans every year. Sunscreen plays a large role in this number, depositing 14,000 tons of chemicals into our oceans. This chemical runoff threatens our ocean’s coral reefs. When chemical sunscreen enters the ocean, the sun’s UV rays are reflected away from the coral. Without receiving necessary sunlight, the coral loses its pigment and becomes a pale white color (aka coral bleaching). Coral bleaching kills the coral. In addition to being a living organism, coral also serves as a habitat for marine life. Without healthy coral reefs, many marine life species lose their homes. Using reef friendly products is an easy way to help our oceans and show our reefs some much needed love.