Committing to minimise our impact on the oceans

Our commitment to minimising our impact*

Thanks to thirty years of innovation and know-how, the Eau Thermale Avène laboratories have developed skin-friendly products, formulated for optimal tolerance even for the most sensitive skin. Since 2013, we have been developing our sun care products with the intention to minimise their impact on the ocean They are formulated with minimal sun filters and without silicones for optimal biodegradability** and reduced impact, whilst always meeting these criteria: [...], effectiveness and tolerance.

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A first study on coral

In 2019, Eau Thermale Avène had the eco-toxicity of its sun creams (Tinosorb S, Tinosorb M, Parsol 1789, Uvasorb HEB) assessed by the Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer. This first study demonstrated the Avène Thermal Water filtering system on the coral Pocillopora Damicornis. This species is particularly widespread and forms part of the Great Barrier Reef*. Coral reefs are known to be particularly threatened by sun creams and the bleaching effect they have. But coral is only one link in the chain; it’s not representative of marine biodiversity as a whole.

*Study conducted with concentrations representative of those found in the environment.

A second study on phytoplankton and zooplankton

To understand the impact of its creams on the whole marine ecosystem, Eau Thermale Avène decided to continue investigations and evaluate the impact of its filters on the plankton organisms at the base of the food chain, and which play a key role in maintaining the balance of marine life and the cycle of elements allowing life on earth.

This ground-breaking study* has shown that our TriAsorb sun filter have no impact on a species of phytoplankton and zooplankton.

*Study conducted on two representative plankton models with concentrations representative of those found in the environment.

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Eau Thermale Avène's partnership with Pur Projet

Since 2016, Eau Thermale Avène has been committed to the Pur Projet association, a social enterprise that supports companies to integrate climate issues into the heart of their value chain as part of a sustainable partnership to regenerate and protect marine ecosystems in Indonesia.

This community-based project aims to help revive damaged coral reefs, preserve mangrove forests and improve the environmental practices of local communities, including recycling plastic waste. Between 2016 and 2018, our partnership has installed 42 structures and replanted 6120 corals of 16 different species and planted 2000 mangrove trees. The 2021 objective of the partnership is to replant 10,000 corals, 6,000 mangrove trees and to collect and recycle 81 tonnes of waste.

Eau Thermale Avène's local actions to help preserve the oceans

Everywhere in the world, from Turkey and Greece to Brazil, Chile and Argentina, the Eau Thermale Avène brand holds high its values of environmental protection and is growing its number of initiatives with the help of local associations to raise awareness of this major issue: cleaning beaches, educating the population and enhancing biodiversity. Since 2020 in Mo'orea, in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, Eau Thermale Avène has joined forces with the Coral Gardeners teams to extend their coral restoration action internationally and contribute to preserving this ecosystem. Since 2017, more than 14,000 fragments have been replanted by the organisation in different parts of the Mo'orea lagoon. There, the reefs are not only a shelter for the local fauna and flora but also for the local population.

*Tested by the Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, a partner of European marine Biological resource centre, on 3 marine biodiversity key species – a species of coral, phytoplankton and zooplankton – at concentrations representative of those found in the environment for sunscreens. TriAsorB™ was tested with the same methodologies and by the same researchers as in the following publications: Stien, D. et al. A unique approach to monitor stress in coral exposed to emerging pollutants. Scientific Reports 10, 9601 (2020). Thorel, E. et al. Effect of 10 UV Filters on the Brine Shrimp artemia salina and the marine Microalga Tetraselmis sp. Toxics 8, 29 (2020).

** According to OECD 301B test