HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0771.026 2020-2022 P/GRNIRMC.
bill (61
CKIT
May 16, 2022
TO: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOR COMMITTEE ON CLIMATE
RESILENCE & NATURAL MANAGEMENT
Attn: Chair Rebecca Villegas, Co-Chair Heather Kimball, and members of the Committee
Climate Resilience &Natural Management. ' '
Dear Chair, Co-Chair, and Committee Members, - ,
I, Keely Bruns, a concerned citizen, ocean lover, mother and business owner dedicated to 9 7.70
protecting our environment and future, want to pledge my support for bill Bill 167.
CO
Although the recent Act 104 banning the sale of two toxic chemicals in sunscreen passed, we left
a large whole where other toxic chemicals can easily be used in substitution, making the Act 104
ineffective.
Research has found that not only the two toxic chemicals recently banned, Oxybenzone and
Octinoxate, are harmful, but up to 14 chemicals found in sunscreen, sunblock and cosmetics,
cause significant harm to living organism endocrine systems, causing disruption of hormone
levels and the inability to reproduce. These additional chemicals include avobenzone,
homosalate, octocrylene, and octisalate.
Palau recently banned 10 ingredients: oxybenzone (benzophenone-3); octinoxate (octyl
methoxycinnamate); octocrylene; 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor; triclosan; methyl paraben;
ethyl paraben;butyl paraben;benzyl paraben; and phenoxyethanol.
There are many things harming our environment that may be beyond our control, but by banning
ALL harmful, toxic, ingredients in the sale of sunscreen here in Hawaii, we can make a
difference.
Hawaii is a year-round market for big industry to make big profits off sunscreen, most likely the
biggest sunscreen market in the world. But at what cost to our fragile ecosystem? It is up to us to
stand up to big industry that drives profit at the cost of destroying our land.
If we harm our reefs endocrine systems, we harm their ability to reproduce, even if, and when,
conditions for a healthy reef begin to thrive. Effective management of these toxic chemicals
entering our shorelines can stop and possibly reverse degradation.
There are many non-toxic sunscreens, deemed safe by the FDA, for sale, at price points that are
reasonable and even competitive with the toxic sunscreens that contain chemical absorbers.All
Good& Raw Elements retails sunscreen at major retails chains across the islands such as (but
not limited to) Long's, Target, Costco, Safeway and Foodland for anywhere between $8.99-
Comm. No T I .26
Ref. To:P[GRN ft-MC"
Ref. Date MAY 1 7 2022
$21.99. Because alternatives to chemical sunscreens are readily available to keep people safe
from burns and skin cancer, there is no need to continue to put an additional stress on our reefs.
I submit my testimony in strong support of Bill 167.
Keely Bruns
concerned citizen, ocean lover, mother, founder of Good Swell, Inc. &Hau Tree Collective