Stream2Sea: Make Smart, Sustainable Choices this Summer

We were fortunate to hear from Autum Blum, Founder & CEO of Stream2Sea products on a virtual call last month. She is a natural products cosmetic chemist, a member of the Women’s Diver Hall of Fame and serves on the Board for Reef Renewal USA.

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial kick-off to summer. Summer is one of our favorite times of the year filled with beach outings, cookouts and of course, epic dive conditions. This summer, we are urging you to consider making smart, sustainable choices when it comes to your skincare products. The intense Florida sun means sunscreen is not a luxury, but a necessity - especially when you’re out on our boats. Being mindful of the ingredients in your products such as sunscreen, leave-in conditioner and even your mask defog can make a huge impact on both the environment and your health.

When was the last time you checked the ingredients in your favorite mask defog? Stream2Sea is my choice for a safe, effective and sustainable choice.

We recently had the opportunity to hear from Autumn Blum, a veteran cosmetic chemist with nearly three decades of experience in natural skincare formulation, share her passionate journey in developing eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreens through her company, Stream2Sea. Motivated by firsthand experiences as a diver witnessing coral reef damage caused by conventional sunscreens, Blum emphasized the urgent need for environmentally responsible sunscreen formulations. She explained to us the detrimental impact of commonly used chemical ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate on marine ecosystems, discussed the challenges faced in developing products that are both safe for human skin and aquatic life, and highlighted the rigorous aquatic toxicity testing required to certify safety.

Our reefs need our help, as widespread ecotoxins in sunscreens pose a major threat. With over 85% of sunscreens containing harmful ecotoxins, the industry’s current standards are insufficient. We love that Stream2Sea’s revolutionary Coral Care sunscreen includes marine nutrients that actually promotes coral growth, going beyond just sun protection.

In one of the more exciting recent developments, Autumn shared about a new product: Coral Care, a groundbreaking sunscreen that not only avoids harmful chemicals but also contains marine nutrients that actively promote coral growth, transforming sunscreen from a pollutant to a reef protector. She shared Stream2Sea’s formulations have demonstrated superior coral health benefits compared to other reef-safe brands, earning the prestigious Reef Protection Factor certification.

We are proud to offer a full line of skincare products and sunscreen in the shop.

I personally loved that the company’s commitment to sustainability extends to their in-house manufacturing and eco-conscious packaging choices, such as switching to post-consumer recycled plastics. Transitioning from sugarcane-based packaging to post-consumer recycled plastics exemplifies a holistic sustainability mindset, addressing not just formula safety but also waste reduction and resource conservation. To me, their approach underscores that true product sustainability encompasses all environmental touchpoints. They really do practice what they preach!

Our regular Larissa wouldn’t be caught on the boat without her post-dive essentials - including Stream2Sea Leave-in Conditioner!

Autum shared her philosophy on championing consumer education as a pivotal strategy to influence better industry practices, rather than relying solely on legislation, which can be difficult to enforce. While regulatory bans on harmful sunscreens do exist, enforcement remains challenging. Autumn advocates for empowering consumers through education about ingredient safety, application methods, and environmental impact, fostering grassroots demand that can encourage manufacturers and policymakers to adapt sustainably over time.

Proper mineral sunscreen application techniques help prevent a displeasing chalky residue. Some people think they don’t like mineral sunscreens, but we learned through Autumn’s talk that most people are just not applying it properly. A little goes a long way!

Autumn’s presentation concluded with a call to action for individuals, especially divers and marine enthusiasts, to make environmentally informed product choices and share this knowledge to collectively protect vulnerable coral ecosystems. If you missed the live presentation, you can still listen to the recording on our YouTube Channel where we keep recordings of all past presentations.

Thanks for helping us all do our part to protect what we love this summer.

Happy Diving,

Grace

Kyalami girls love their Stream2Sea products!