Key West, Florida has voted to ban certain sunscreens in an effort to protect coral reefs in its surrounding waters.
As one of the speakers at the meeting, I discussed one of the commission's main concerns of the Key West City Commission, that there are that are safe, effective and natural mineral sunscreens that meet the required FDA testing for SPF, water resistance and broad spectrum and that Love Sun Body Sunscreens also meet the more stringent European commission’s recommendation for UVA protection.
The measure which the City Commission approved Tuesday, February 5, 2019 in a 6-to-1 vote that will ban sales of sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. The legislation will go into effect on January 1, 2021.
The Pacific nation of Palau and the state of Hawaii both passed similar sunscreen bans last year containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. In Palau, a total of 10 chemicals are prohibited.
“Our coral has been under attack by a number of stressors,” Mayor Teri Johnston said. “We just thought if there was one thing we could do, to take one of the stressors away, it was our responsibility to do so.”
The National Park Service says that 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen enter reef areas each year, and studies have found that the chemicals they contain can damage coral reefs, contributing to “bleaching” and death.
EWG has been publishing a list of the most common active sunscreen filters for many years. While many of these filters cause skin rashes and hormonal changes, most sunscreen manufacturers have yet to change their formulations, rather choosing to eliminate these hazardous filters just before their banned and replace them with other hazardous filters, rather than reformulating to safe sunscreens.
After six years of research and development, Love Sun Body 100% Natural Origin Mineral Sunscreens launched in June 2018. Love Sun Body 100% Natural Origin Mineral Sunscreens are the first and only sunscreens in the U.S. certified by Ecocert Cosmos Natural and have been clinically tested hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and are reef safe. Love Sun Body 100% Natural Origin Mineral Sunscreens meet the regulatory requirements of the FDA OTC Monograph System and the European Commission’s recommendation on UVA protection. Love Sun Body 100% Natural Origin Mineral Sunscreens are made with the safest UVA and UVB filters - SPF 30 Formulas non-nano Zinc Oxide and SPF 50 Formulas non-nano Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide and plant based moisturizers.
Love Sun Body was also recently given the best score for safety and efficacy by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Love Sun Body sunscreen formulas are certified PETA Cruelty Free and Vegan, with no eye stinging ingredients.