We are deeply committed to respecting life and all aquatic ecosystems
Coral Safe, our commitment to the respect of aquatic ecosystems: marine and freshwater
At the heart of all our products lies the desire to care for and understand the skin and its needs. This has been the approach we have implemented for over 40 years, and we call it ecobiology.
Through ecobiology, we consider the skin as an ecosystem made up of living cells that constantly interact with one another and with their environment.
This means we are profoundly committed to respecting all living things and care deeply about the impact our products may have on the health of all ecosystems, including aquatic ecosystems.
We call this approach, inspired by ecobiology, “Coral Safe”.
“Being respectful is not enough.
We need to be aware of the world we live in and what we owe to it.”
Jean-Noël Thorel
NAOS President & Founder
Our action to protect aquatic ecosystems is based on 3 commitments:
Considering our impact on all aquatic ecosystems, not just marine ecosystems
Selecting every ingredient meticulously and conducting research into the ingredients of the future
Protecting large ecosystems including Posidonia meadows
1. To consider our impact on all
aquatic ecosystems,
not just marine ecosystems
Here at NAOS we measure the impact our products have on both seawater – seas and oceans – and freshwater – lakes and rivers, which are particularly rich in biodiversity.
So as well as performing ecotoxicity tests on corals and seaweed, we also perform them on freshwater plankton (Daphnia magna Straus).
Specifically, we follow three methods:
Impact on the viability of coral reefs (observation of retraction of polyps and bleaching of cuttings)
Marine algal growth inhibition tests (Phaeodactylum tricornutum) using the NF ISO 10253 method
Freshwater plankton test (Daphnia magna Straus) using the OECD 202 method / NF EN ISO 6341
All sun care products from the three NAOS brands (Bioderma, Institut Esthederm and Etat Pur) pass these three tests.
02. To select every ingredient meticulously
and conduct research into
the ingredients of the future
NAOS assesses the ecotoxicological profile of every ingredient, including all sun filters and sunscreens, and scrupulously selects those that will minimise the impact of our products on the environment.
In particular,
We no longer use ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (also known as OMC or octinoxate), benzophenone-3 (also known as oxybenzone) or 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor (4-MBC).
We work on our formulas to ensure a very high water resistance whenever it is useful. Thus, even when swimming, the sun product remains in contact with the skin to protect it and the quantity that comes into contact with the environment is minimized.
At NAOS, we are working on the sun care products of tomorrow.
In addition, NAOS is in constant innovation and is looking for new ingredients that will accompany the sun filters of tomorrow.
Our approach is inspired by one of our founding principles – the biomimestism – to help the skin to better protect itself against the harmful effects of the sun; both by preserving its resources while strengthening its natural defense systems.
03. Protecting large ecosystems
including Posidonia meadows
Jean-Noël Thorel, Founding President, a keen deep-sea diver and someone who is truly passionate about the sea, has set NAOS on the path of preserving the marine environment with the aim of regenerating posidonias.
NAOS supports the Andromeda Oceanology association in the development of 2 projects:
DONIA deployment, an anchoring and navigating app for the general public that offers users a new cartography of the oceans, so that they can choose to anchor outside of seagrass beds.
Funding for a a major work of underwater mapping and regeneration actions (transplanting operations in restricted mooring areas that have suffered destruction of beds).
“Posidonias capture 4 to 5 times more carbon than other species of marine flowering plants.”
Laurent Ballesta
Naturalist Photograph, Andromède Océanologie Director