Anyone can put a word on a sunscreen label. "Reef safe." "Natural." "Biodegradable." None of it means anything unless it's backed by data you can actually check.
So here's what we think counts as proof — and what every sunscreen brand should have to show before making a claim.
Proof Requirements
Removing one or two known harmful sun filters and calling the whole product "reef safe" is a sleight of hand — that's not proof. Real proof tests the entire finished formula: filters, emulsifiers, fragrances, preservatives, all of it, together.
Breaking down isn't the same as being harmless — biodegradability alone proves nothing. Ecocompatibility means showing what a substance breaks down into, and what that does to marine life at real-world concentrations.
A claim isn't science just because a press release — or the brand itself — says so; that's not proof. Real proof is research work carried out by reputable scientists using transparent test protocols. It is then peer-reviewed and published or part of a patent filing.
At AETHIC, we aim to uphold these standards.
We're asking other brands to do the same.