Sherwin Williams

The Business of Being Green
Protecting the world’s great barrier reefs

One of life’s great thrills is diving and snorkeling to explore the crystal clear waters on a vibrant, colorful reef, teaming with sea life in every color of the rainbow. Riviera Maya has endless options to do just that. The world’s second largest great barrier reef stretches from southern Quintana Roo south, along the coast of Belize to the Bay Islands of Honduras.  While water sports are a great pleasure and pastime in Riviera Maya, its also big business. With comfortable temperatures year-round and playing host to millions of overnight visitors each year, Riviera Maya is increasingly involved in the practice of sustainable tourism. That means limiting the impact that visitors have on the environment – including the health of the great barrier reef.

Because coral reefs are living organisms a clean, safe environment is critical for them to thrive. They can easily be damaged by careless and improper anchoring, souvenir-takers and climate change but also in large part by man-made marine pollution. Chemicals that end up in the water from the run off of pesticides, agriculture byproducts, oil and fuel, water treatment plants, antifouling marine paint… and by you and your children swimming nearby.

Yes, we can unintentionally have a negative impact on the fragile marine ecosystem of tropical reefs from the chemicals and oils on our bodies; specifically sunscreen and sun block containing parabens, cinnamates, benzophenones and camphor. It is estimated that each year up to 6,000 tons of sunscreen washes off into the waters surrounding coral reefs from vacationing divers and swimmers.

The coral that forms the world’s reefs are dependent on algae called zooxanthellae to provide up to 90% of a coral's food and energy requirements and contribute to the vibrant color of the coral reefs.  In return the coral provides the zooxanthellae with protection and a constant supply of carobon dioxide required for photosynthesis. Even  when introduced in extremely low concentrations, sunscreen chemicals such as benzophenones can trigger viral infections that damage or kill the zooxanthellae. This causes what’s known as “coral reef bleaching”.  The coral will loose all its vibrant color, turn white and die.

All over Mexico, the use of biodegradable sun block and sunscreen is beginning to be required for snorkeling, dive and swimming tours.   Riviera Maya is a trailblazer in this green movement. At such famous visitor locations such as Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Garrafon Park, Chankanaab Park, and the protected marine park in Cozumel, use of biodegradable sunscreen is mandatory.

But not to worry, you can protect your skin and the coral reefs at the same time by choosing your skin care products wisely and wearing sun-protective clothing and hats.
 

• Made with zinc oxide instead of chemicals
• Protect against a full spectrum of UV light - UV A1, A2, B and C.
• Packaging uses non-aerosol pumps
• Products that are organic and non toxic to the environment

Organic and environmentally-friendly sun screens:
Soleo Organics
Badger Healthy Body Care
Kiss My Face
Mexitan
Purple Prairie
UV Natural
Lavera Naturkosmetik
SanRe Organic Skinfood
Elemental Herbs
Kabana Skin Care
Rare Natural Care, Inc.
HelioVital
Aubrey Organics

Ref:
Sunscreens Cause Coral Bleaching by Promoting Viral Infections
Researched published in Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 116, Number 4, April 2008
Research / Department of Marine Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, and Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of the Marche, Ancona, Italy
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2008/10966/abstract.html

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