Reef Relief sunscreen also presents to the world another first in the form of Reef Protection Factor
As many as 80 pc of ordinary sunscreens contain chemicals that contribute to coral bleaching and dying reefs, according to reports.
In order to preserve coral reefs that are endangered around the world due to climate change and pollution, Israeli city Eilat has come up with the world’s first sunscreen Reef Relief that is scientifically formulated not only to protect the skin from UV rays but also to feed and nourish endangered coral reefs.
In a press statement, Israel Ministry of Tourism says that Reef Relief sunscreen also presents to the world another first, a brand-new certification, not just Sun Protection Factor or SPF, but also RPF or Reef Protection Factor.
The ministry says that the ‘ecological wonder’ Eilat is home to the planet’s northernmost shallow-water reef and this innovation came through in a drive to protect it and other coral reefs. Coral is facing serious threats from climate change, pollution, and other human activities, with an estimated 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen ending up in the world’s oceans every year.
It adds that while some manufacturers have begun to remove harmful chemicals like oxybenzone, Reef Relief goes further than any other sunscreen on the planet to protect coral reefs and help them thrive.
Marine and skincare specialists have developed a new formulation based on a non-nano, titanium-dioxide-based, mineral sunscreen, says the ministry, adding that the base formula is sustainability certification Ecocert-compliant and has undergone extensive aquatic safety testing, to include c elegans, freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and coral larvae. The added reef nourishing formula is a bespoke blend of federal agency Food and Drug Association-compliant trace minerals used by coral farmers to feed and support healthy growth in coral.
“The development of a sunscreen that not only doesn’t harm coral, but has the potential to feed and nourish our reefs, is an important step towards protecting and preserving our oceans. Reef Relief could feed into the health of communities underwater and on land,” says Giovanni Giallongo, Marine Biologist at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Eilat.
The ministry says that a growing number of products claim to be ‘reef-friendly’ or ‘reef-safe’, but there is a lack of regulation in this area which means that consumers are easily being misled. It’s hoped that the new RPF marque will become an industry standard and spread beyond Israel, worldwide, helping consumers make responsible choices, adds the statement.
“This is a way of identifying sunscreen that truly cares for coral. An RPF marque as an industry standard: this could be game-changing,” says Giallongo.
