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As summer
swiftly approaches, plans and activities will obviously be
very different than in previous years. While we navigate the
"new normal" that the COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in, we are
doing our best to keep ourselves, loved ones, and the most
compromised members of our society safe. But there are still
ways to stay happy, healthy, and active. One option is
spending time outdoors in the sunshine, where experts say we
are safe provided that we are socially distant. But what if the sunscreens we use are far from
safe?
Coppertone sunscreen contains
oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are chemicals that can
bleach, stunt, and even kill corals and other marine
organisms. Not only are reefs home to countless
organisms — 25% of all ocean species rely on reefs for
survival — but they also provide endlessly for
humans. It is estimated that reefs yield as much as
172 billion U.S. dollars yearly for humans by
providing food, tourism, shore protection, and products used
in medicines. Coral reefs are also a key player in
keeping our environment healthy. It is unacceptable
that Coppertone would make sunscreen that protects us but
harms the coral reefs that we and our environment
depend on.
Hawaii made history when it
officially banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone and
octinoxate, but it should not be up to individual states or
territories. Companies like Coppertone can stop this
harm at the source, and they should! Coppertone's
parent company, Bayer, says it continuously works to "develop
product solutions that benefit the environment." But there are
plenty of environmentally friendly sunscreen ingredients
already. It's time for Bayer to live up to its promises of
corporate responsibility and stop selling products that it
knows are contributing to coral bleaching and the deaths of
marine vertebrates. Tell Bayer to change Coppertone's
ingredients and go reef-safe, before it's too
late!
Thank you,
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Lauren W.
The
Care2 Petitions Team | |
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