Our Reef-Safe Pledge aims to decrease the use of harmful chemical sunscreens worldwide. We urge everyone to choose sunscreen free from synthetic chemicals that harm our ocean's coral reefs and encourage retailers to support this shift by making alternative sunscreens available.

The Reef-Safe Pledge was inspired by Hawaii’s historic ban on the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have been proven to harm coral reefs. As the first place in the world to initiate this ban, Hawaii has helped us reach an important conservation milestone. Each year, 28,000,000 pounds of sunscreen wind up in waters that are home to coral reefs, but 1 drop of oxybenzone is toxic enough to contaminate 6.5 Olympic sized pools worth of water and seriously damage and even kill corals.  In Hawaii, concentrations more than 10 times that amount have been measured at popular beaches. Since coral reefs support nearly 25% of all marine life, harming them endangers the ocean’s entire ecosystem. That’s why we’re pledging to choose reef safe sunscreens and ask you to join us.

1 drop of oxybenzone is toxic enough to contaminate 6.5 Olympic sized pools worth of water and seriously damage and even kill corals.

About Us

The Inland Ocean Coalition represents a collaborative effort to amplify local and national movements supporting land-to-water stewardship that protect the health of our ocean, and our planet. Our Reef-Safe Sunscreen campaign was sparked because we see an immediate need for action against chemical sunscreens, not just in Hawaii but around the world.

We don’t expect Hawaii’s success to stand alone. In fact, the Caribbean island of Bonaire has already followed suit by passing a similar ban, and California, Florida, and Colorado seem promising as the next battlegrounds for this initiative. However, the bans in Hawaii and Bonaire won’t be effective until January 1, 2021, and the Inland Ocean Coalition and its affiliates see an immediate opportunity to spread the reef safe movement on the ground and start minimizing our negative impact on the ocean today.

Every drop counts and every individual can make a difference, even those who live inland. Chemical sunscreens used anywhere in the world end up in our water systems, and eventually, in our ocean, so it’s just as important for people in landlocked states and countries to choose safe sunscreen.

The Reef-Safe Pledge calls on individuals and businesses alike to make a simple change that will help keep our waters clean and our marine life safe. We encourage consumers to take the pledge to choose only reef-safe sunscreen and retailers to do their part by pledging to make mineral sunscreen available.

Join us by choosing mineral sunscreen to help protect our ocean and Take the Pledge today. We encourage everyone to get involved by taking and sharing our pledge. Together, we can help save our reefs!

Get Involved

Individuals and Other Supporters
  1. When you’re buying a sunscreen product, make sure it contains minerals rather than harmful chemicals. (You can find reef-safe mineral sunscreen from companies like Goddess Garden and Stream2Sea in over 25,000 retailers nationwide).
  2. Encourage your favorite retailers to offer reef-safe options and minimize their selection of damaging chemical sunscreens.
  3. Spread the word to your friends and family.
  4. Take the Pledge that you will use only reef-safe sunscreen.

 

 

Sunscreen Retailers
  1. Make a commitment to stop offering sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, and other chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
  2. Take the Reef-Safe Sunscreen Pledge.
  3. Use the materials provided in the campaign packet to promote the movement at your business.
  4.  Encourage others in your industry to join!

We're Proud to Support Reef-Safe Companies

When we considered the ingredients commonly used in our skin care products and what their effects were not only to our bodies but on our planet too, we realized we could do better: we could create eco-conscious skin care products.

The Concern: Certain ingredients in sunscreens are toxic to corals and reef fishes. Studies have shown that sunscreens worn by swimmers, divers, snorkelers, fishermen and general “aquaholics” contributed to the decline of coral reefs. Between 6,000 and 14,000 tons of sunscreen washes off into our coral reefs every year and accelerates the process of coral reefs bleaching, as well being toxic to certain reef fish species.

Common sunscreen ingredients, such as Benzophenone-3, also know as Oxybenzone, can bleach coral and damage coral reefs. Cylcopentasiloxane/Cyclomethicone are silicone-based ingredients, used in skin and hair care products, have also been shown to be toxic and to bio-accumulate in aquatic organisms. They are also suspected to be reproductive toxins and endocrine disruptors.

What you put ON your body has the potential to be absorbed INTO your body. It’s important to understand the effects of the ingredients in body care products, and make an educated decision based on the balance between healthy and safe.

Fact #1: Some common ingredients in body care products are systemically absorbed into your body and are passed through urine, blood and breast milk.

Fact #2: Some common, FDA approved ingredients in body care products are linked to cancer, hormone imbalances, cellular damage and more. They can disrupt the body’s natural functions.

Fact #3: There are healthier choices you can make when it comes to products and the ingredients within them…but it starts with education.

 

The roots of Goddess Garden go far beyond our facilities here in Boulder County, Colorado. They lie in the Pacific Northwest where our founders Nova Covington and Paul Halter spent their childhood. Nova grew up in Oregon and the deep woods of British Columbia, and Paul in rural Oregon. During their childhood, they both became “early environmentalists” and developed an understanding of the power of nature and a love and appreciation for the great outdoors.

Years later, after careers in corporate America, Nova and Paul became more keenly aware of the need for change in the skincare industry when their first daughter, Paige, was allergic to the chemicals in traditional bath and cosmetic products. Nova, with an herbalist background, and Paul, with a nutrition science degree, were inspired to develop safe skincare solutions, using the pure minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as the active agents for sun protection. From there, Goddess Garden began to grow.

Goddess Garden wants people to enjoy the sun, not avoid it. Goddess Garden natural sunscreen protects and nourishes even the most sensitive skin without harsh sunscreen chemicals. In keeping with the care-for-the-people principle, Goddess Garden is committed to customer satisfaction and is always available to listen to customers about their experience with the product. Goddess Garden was founded on two important principles: helping the planet and helping people safely enjoy the sun.

Chemicals don’t only affect us, they affect our ecosystem as a whole, which is why all Goddess Garden products are reef-safe and cruelty free. Their natural mineral sunscreens are reef-safe, certified organic and perfect for sensitive skin. Free from hormone disruptors and harsh chemicals, all Goddess Garden sunscreens are safe, effective and gentle on your skin and on the coral reefs!