2023 was the year of floods but also of the sad records of the highest temperatures ever recorded: every month a new first time, every month a record surpassing the previous month. 

This is stated by the European State of the Climate 2023: the report published just a few hours ago by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. 

One key takeaway: Europe is currently the fastest-warming continent, with temperature increases double the global average.

This long account of numbers and climate trends tells us that the frequency and severity of extreme events are increasing, reminding us of the importance of making choices to protect the ecosystem. A general rule of common sense, which also applies to what we spread or spray on our bodies.

And if what forms a barrier on our body pollutes coral reefs? 

The sea, by definition, is the habitat where everyone – or at least the most prudent – usually protects themselves from something: from sunburns, exposure to solar radiation, dryness, skin aging, the annoying (but actually beneficial) sensation of salt on the skin, and all the other small or large inconveniences that this environment entails.

But there is a small huge paradox hidden under the sand of the wonderful beaches that welcome us in droves every year: what we choose to protect our bodies, from head to toe, often has quite the opposite effect on the environment.

An example? A drop of sunscreen can bleach ten centimeters of coral in a few hours. 

Yes, bleach. And not because it prevents corals from tanning, but because the photosynthetic algae living inside them, absorbing sunlight and performing photosynthesis to nourish them, are expelled due to pollution. This seemingly insignificant event makes the coral vulnerable to infections. Result: it compromises their survival.

We are talking about those same breathtaking coral reefs that we marvel at during long snorkeling excursions. Those wonderful marine organisms that, for this and many other reasons, are increasingly at risk of gradually disappearing. And precisely to protect them, tourist destinations like Florida, Palau, Hawaii, and the Caribbean have banned sunscreens.

The Paradox You Don't Expect: Traces of Solar Products at the North Pole 

Yet, a study by the Ca' Foscari University of Venice and the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council (CNR-ISP), in collaboration with the University of Svalbard, detected the presence of UV filters and synthetic fragrances from widely used personal care products among the ice.

A bit unusual to come across these substances on the glaciers of the Svalbard archipelago, thousands of kilometers away from the most popular vacation destinations, but the reason is quickly explained: their presence is due to the most efficient and punctual transport medium in circulation, namely long-range atmospheric transport. 

In simple terms: with the melting of Arctic ice due to global warming, many contaminant compounds will be re-released into the environment, which have already shown harmful effects on marine flora and fauna. 

This discovery supports the increasingly certain thesis that what we use here and now has long-lasting and far-reaching consequences.

Fun Fact: Did You Know Plants Also Protect Themselves from Sunburn?   

 

For the plant world, the sun is synonymous with energy, synchronizing life cycles and determining the various phases of a plant's life, such as flowering, defoliation, and seed growth. 

But even plants, like humans, need to protect themselves from the harmful effects of UV rays. How? By producing a sort of sunscreen. These are chemical substances that protect plant tissues, allowing the plant not only to survive and grow undisturbed but also to adapt to coexist with harmful radiation.

What can be deduced from all this?

That there are many plant species capable of helping us create a barrier against UV rays thanks to their active ingredients. For example, sesame oil resists 30% of UV rays, while coconut, peanut, olive, and cottonseed oils resist about 20%. Brown algae also protect against a wide range of light sources, thanks to their strong antioxidant properties. 

Sunway Agricosmetics: A Choice from the Earth for the Earth

Let's take the virtuous example of brown algae extract. A cosmetic formula containing it has an edge in defending against photoaging and damage from sun, salt, sand, and chlorine exposure. 

Every year, about 14,000 tons of solar products end up in the oceans, and about 8 million tons of waste are left on beaches. 

This reality leads us to constantly create and improve our protection recipe for people and the ecosystem.

The Sunway Agricosmetic Line from Oway: 

• Does not contain chemical filters;
• Does not release polluting components into water;
• Achieves high percentages of biodegradability;
• Is made with plant ingredients from biodynamic agriculture;
• Is enclosed in glass and aluminum bottles;
• Is scented exclusively with botanical essential oils. 

A regenerating, nourishing, and refreshing regimen, with very high percentages of naturally derived ingredients, that protects against environmental factors without impacting the environment.