The One Show
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Category
Green Pencil
Annual ID
OS26_GP002M
Background
Coral reefs are one of the most important ecosystems on the planet, supporting more than 25% of marine life and one billion people. Our reefs are estimated to have a total global value of £6 trillion per year, because they provide food, medicine and coastal protection and are a huge source of tourism. But tourists coming to experience the reefs are actually damaging them. Over 80% of ordinary sunscreens contain chemicals known to bleach and kill coral reefs, such as Oxybenzone, Octinoxate and Octocrylene. And every year 14,000 tons of sunscreen wash off us into our oceans. Additionally, there was no regulation in the sunscreen industry, with many brands falsely claiming to be ‘reef-safe’.
So, we turned the problem into the solution. Working with ethical sunscreen manufacturer Stream2Sea, we created Coral Care, the world’s first sunscreen that nourishes coral. We partnered Stream2Sea with the University of Derby and Professor Michael Sweet, the Marine Adviser to the United Nations, to conduct the most extensive coral and sunscreen test ever, showing that Coral Care significantly nourishes coral – by 29% more than Mother Nature.
We launched Coral Care with a series of global partnerships in high tourism locations, to raise awareness of the impact of sunscreen on coral. We also launched Reef Protection Factor (RPF), a new industry certification to show consumers which sunscreen brands are truly safe for or beneficial to coral.
Stream2Sea is now at the forefront of the ethical sunscreen industry, helping educate the planet and save coral reefs.
So, we turned the problem into the solution. Working with ethical sunscreen manufacturer Stream2Sea, we created Coral Care, the world’s first sunscreen that nourishes coral. We partnered Stream2Sea with the University of Derby and Professor Michael Sweet, the Marine Adviser to the United Nations, to conduct the most extensive coral and sunscreen test ever, showing that Coral Care significantly nourishes coral – by 29% more than Mother Nature.
We launched Coral Care with a series of global partnerships in high tourism locations, to raise awareness of the impact of sunscreen on coral. We also launched Reef Protection Factor (RPF), a new industry certification to show consumers which sunscreen brands are truly safe for or beneficial to coral.
Stream2Sea is now at the forefront of the ethical sunscreen industry, helping educate the planet and save coral reefs.
Creative Idea
Over 80% of sunscreen brands contain chemicals that bleach and kill coral. So we turned the problem into the solution. We created Coral Care, the world’s first sunscreen that not only doesn’t harm coral, it actually nourishes it, thanks to an added, bespoke blend of marine nutrients that coral naturally feeds on. Independent scientific testing proved that Coral Care boosts coral growth by as much as 29% more than Mother Nature. But one sunscreen can’t change the world, so we also created and launched Reef Protection Factor (RPF), a new, three-tiered, science-backed certification to regulate the unregulated sunscreen industry and invite other brands to test their products for reef-safety. We also opened up Coral Care’s formula for white labelling, so any brand can create its own reef-positive sunscreen. We activated Coral Care and RPF globally in a widespread series of activations and in 360 media, with over 40 partner organisations.
Insights & Strategy
Every year 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in our oceans, with over 80% containing chemicals toxic to coral reefs. Just 0.14 milligrams per litre of the most harmful chemical Oxybenzone is enough to kill coral larvae, yet as much as ten times that amount has been found around coral reefs. Tourists are destroying the reefs they have come to enjoy.
This led to our two-pronged strategy. To promote both our revolutionary new Coral Care product and our Reef Protection Factor project.
We educated and inspired global tourists and sunscreen consumers through partnerships with conservation NGOs, tourist boards and leisure brands. Our mission was to inform the world that most sunscreens they were using were harmful to coral reefs, but there was a way to be part of the solution. They no longer had to make a choice between protecting themselves, or the planet. Now they could do both.
This led to our two-pronged strategy. To promote both our revolutionary new Coral Care product and our Reef Protection Factor project.
We educated and inspired global tourists and sunscreen consumers through partnerships with conservation NGOs, tourist boards and leisure brands. Our mission was to inform the world that most sunscreens they were using were harmful to coral reefs, but there was a way to be part of the solution. They no longer had to make a choice between protecting themselves, or the planet. Now they could do both.
Execution
RPF is our new, science-backed certification that confirms whether a product is safe for coral. Brands can find out more at RPF.world and submit their products for testing at accredited testing centres established in the UK and Germany.
The RPF certification was created by the vision of UN marine advisor and University of Derby Professor Michael Sweet, who recognised the widespread misuse of the term ‘reef-safe’. Underpinned by a White Paper and activated through independent testing centres that we established. His purpose-led initiative now enables brands to genuinely validate their reef-friendly claims, holding the industry to a higher standard of environmental responsibility.
Coral Care is the world’s first sunscreen scientifically proven to nourish coral, but one sunscreen can’t change the world, so we also made our formula available for any brand to create its own reef-positive sunscreen.
We partnered with tourism, leisure and NGO organisations for activations to spread awareness and educate consumers. These included a sunscreen amnesty boat with Amazing Thailand, an island takeover in the Bahamas with MSC Cruises, a children’s book on reef safety with the University of Derby and ICRI, a collaboration with Miss Scuba International, an RPF sand art installation in Northumbria, providing reef-positive sunscreen to Reef Check divers in Malaysia, partnering with influencers, Spotify playlists, OOH and Social.
The RPF certification was created by the vision of UN marine advisor and University of Derby Professor Michael Sweet, who recognised the widespread misuse of the term ‘reef-safe’. Underpinned by a White Paper and activated through independent testing centres that we established. His purpose-led initiative now enables brands to genuinely validate their reef-friendly claims, holding the industry to a higher standard of environmental responsibility.
Coral Care is the world’s first sunscreen scientifically proven to nourish coral, but one sunscreen can’t change the world, so we also made our formula available for any brand to create its own reef-positive sunscreen.
We partnered with tourism, leisure and NGO organisations for activations to spread awareness and educate consumers. These included a sunscreen amnesty boat with Amazing Thailand, an island takeover in the Bahamas with MSC Cruises, a children’s book on reef safety with the University of Derby and ICRI, a collaboration with Miss Scuba International, an RPF sand art installation in Northumbria, providing reef-positive sunscreen to Reef Check divers in Malaysia, partnering with influencers, Spotify playlists, OOH and Social.
Results
Long-term outcomes:
We’re expanding into other countries including Australia, Hawaii and Mexico while giving RPF marks to the world’s most eco-conscious brands.
Scalability:
RPF is hugely scalable, enabling global sunscreen brands to test existing products and instantly create their own reef-positive brand with the white-labelled Coral Care formula.
Industry Relevance:
Coral Care turns an industry problem into the solution. RPF is vital because the term ‘reef-safe’ is highly unregulated in the industry.
Results:
University of Derby coral testing showed healthy growth by as high as 29% in some species compared to adding nothing to the water. And by 50% compared to the best reef-safe sunscreens.
We’re partnered by over 40 global organisations and rising.
Coral Care is now available for sale through over 200 retail partners.
Our PR and Social has achieved a reach of 6.1 billion and our project has featured in 821 global publications so far.
We’re expanding into other countries including Australia, Hawaii and Mexico while giving RPF marks to the world’s most eco-conscious brands.
Scalability:
RPF is hugely scalable, enabling global sunscreen brands to test existing products and instantly create their own reef-positive brand with the white-labelled Coral Care formula.
Industry Relevance:
Coral Care turns an industry problem into the solution. RPF is vital because the term ‘reef-safe’ is highly unregulated in the industry.
Results:
University of Derby coral testing showed healthy growth by as high as 29% in some species compared to adding nothing to the water. And by 50% compared to the best reef-safe sunscreens.
We’re partnered by over 40 global organisations and rising.
Coral Care is now available for sale through over 200 retail partners.
Our PR and Social has achieved a reach of 6.1 billion and our project has featured in 821 global publications so far.
2026 Awards
Total Points: 3
Merit
Credits
Agency
McCann / London
Futurebrand / London
Client / Brand
Stream2Sea
University of Derby / Derby
Art Director
Fred Corazza
Associate Creative Director
Fleur Cuyalaa
Chief Creative Officer
Adrian Botan
Emiliano Gonzalez De Pietri
Vince McSweeney
Copywriter
Alex Smith
Designer
Clare Tarbox
Editor
Keelan Boyt
Steve Cumberland
Executive Creative Director
Jon Elsom
Global Chief Creative Officer
Javier Campopiano
Producer
Rae Reeves
Student
Triona Barker
Account Manager
Lily Nunn
Brand Co-ordinator
Faith Connelly
Vicki Parsons
Brand Director
Mike Malterre
Peter Palmer
Business Director
Sophie Churchill
CEO
Autumn Blum
Dean Lovett
Mel Arrow
Creative Excellence
Alice Reindlová
Stuart Casey
Director of Product Excellence
Carmen Bistrian
Global Head of Creative Excellence & Creative Operations
Maru Sokolowski
Group Managing Director
Chris Falconer
Professor
Micheal Sweet
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