Institut Esthederm Is Committed To The Oceans

Through ecobiology, we consider the skin as an ecosystem made up of living cells that constantly interact with each other and with their environment.

Thus, we have always been deeply committed to respecting living organisms and concerned about the impact of our products on the health of all ecosystems, including aquatic, marine and freshwater ecosystems. 

As a NAOS brand, we are committed to respecting aquatic ecosystems through 3 pillars:

#1 CONSIDER OUR IMPACT ON ALL AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS, BEYOND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

At NAOS, we measure the impact of our products on salt water, seas, and oceans, but also on fresh water, lakes and rivers, which are particularly rich in biodiversity. Thus, in addition to corals and seaweed, we conduct ecotoxicity tests on freshwater plankton (Daphnia magna Straus).

Specifically, we follow three methods:
_Impact on the viability of corals (observation of the retraction of polyps and the bleaching of cuttings),
_Test to inhibit the growth of marine algae (Phaedactylum tricornutum) according to the NF ISO 10253 method
_Test on freshwater plankton (Daphnia magna Straus) according to the OECD 202 method.

#2 SELECT EACH INGREDIENT CAREFULLY AND SEARCH FOR THE INGREDIENTS OF THE FUTURE

At NAOS, we evaluate the ecotoxicological profile of each ingredient, including all filters and sunscreens, and select them scrupulously to minimize the impact of our products on the environment.

More specifically,
1 - We no longer formulate with ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate (called OMC or octinoxate), benzophenone-3 (also called oxybenzone) or 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor (4-MBC).
2 – Our formulas do not contain water-soluble filters that could be diluted in river or ocean water. Our formulas offer high water resistance to minimize the effect on aquatic ecosystems.

In addition, we innovate and research the ingredients that will accompany the sunscreens of tomorrow. Our goal: to help the skin protect itself even better against the harmful effects of the sun, by preserving its resources and strengthening its natural defence systems.

#3 SUPPORT EMBLEMATIC INITIATIVES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Jean-Noël Thorel, our Founding President, diver and sea lover, commits NAOS to the preservation of the marine environment in favour of the regeneration of Posidonia.

Why Posidonia? Because these underwater meadows have a major ecological role whose particularity is to capture 4 to 5 times more carbon than other species of marine flowering plants.

NAOS supports the Andromède Océanologie association and in particular the deployment of DONIA, an application for mooring and navigation for the general public which offers its users a new cartographic universe allowing them to anchor outside the Posidonia seagrass beds.

Andromède Océanologie has developed unique expertise on marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean (France, Greece, Italy, and Spain) and carries out major work on underwater mapping and regeneration actions (transplanting operations in prohibited mooring areas that have suffered destruction of herbaria).

OUR OTHER COMMITMENTS:

NAOS COMMITMENTS TO ACT FOR THE LIVING

For several years, we have been acting for living organisms by reducing the impact on the environment at all levels of our activity and at each stage of the product life cycle (selection of ingredients, choice of packaging, logistics plan, transport, use of the product until its end of life, etc.).

This is an essential challenge for NAOS and every step, however small, is important. Our efforts are now focused on the eco-design of products to consider all stages of the product life cycle by managing them responsibly.

ADOPT ECO-DESIGNED PACKAGING

By adopting the eco-design approach, particularly for our packaging, we are working to reduce greenhouse gases and waste as well as the consumption of fossil resources and water, our four main priorities are:

Reduce the weight of our packaging,
Reuse our packaging,
Replace by integrating recycled or biosourced plastics,
Recycle by improving the recyclability rate of our current packaging.

SUPPORT INITIATIVES IN THE FIELD OF PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Controlling our impact on marine environments and helping to preserve them is extremely important to us and has led us to support two initiatives: Plastic Odyssey and Andromède Océanologie.

PLASTIC ODYSSEY

Committed to respecting living organisms and marine ecosystems, NAOS supports Plastic Odyssey, the expedition which aims to find solutions against plastic pollution and raise awareness among populations around the world.

ANDROMEDA OCEANOLOGY

This association deals with the protection and preservation of the underwater Posidonia meadows. These seagrasses play a major ecological role, capturing 4 to 5 times more carbon than other species of marine flowering plants. Andromède Océanologie is carrying out important mapping and replanting work on this precious species in the Mediterranean.