Friends of the Earth Australia's Nanotechnology Project produces the safe sunscreen guide. The 2011-2012 guide is based on information received as of November 14, 2011, and serves as an update to previous versions of the guide.
This guide enables the Australian public to make informed choices about using or avoiding nano-sunscreens. We have printed thousands of copies of the guide and the most up to date version is available to download on our website.
Based on company responses to this survey, Friends of the Earth rates brands' primary and secondary sunscreens as accurately as possible for the consumer.
THE SAFE SUNSCREEN GUIDE RATING SYSTEM IS AS FOLLOWS:
DARK GREEN: Brands provide us with information that states or shows that their products are free of manufactured particles that measure less than 100nm in one or more of the particle dimensions or made up of a 'clump' of particles this size. Furthermore, these brands provide us with information on their products are free of UV-absorbing chemicals and/or fragrance.
GREEN: Brands provide us with information that states or shows that their products are free of manufactured particles that measure less than 100nm in one or more of the particle dimensions or made up of a 'clump' of particles this size.
ORANGE: These brands have ignored or refused Friends of the Earth's request to complete our questionnaire regarding the use of manufactured nanoparticles.
RED: Brands have either:
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told us that they use manufactured nanoparticles, and/or;
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use manufactured nanoparticles that measure less than 100nm in one or more of the particle dimensions or made up of a 'clump' of particles this size, and/or;
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been found to be using manufactured nanoparticles through testing commissioned by Friends of the Earth;
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told our anonymous consumer survey that they used nanoparticles; or
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the manufacturer the brand uses has informed us that they supply the brand with an ingredient that contains manufactured nanoparticles.
Companies are asked to complete our questionnaire and send to:
Gregory Crocetti gregory.crocetti[@]foe.org.au or to:
Friends of the Earth Attention Gregory Crocetti PO Box 222 Fitzroy VIC 3065 Australia For further information about this survey or about the safe sunscreen guide, please email gregory.crocetti[@]foe.org.au or phone (03) 9024 3404
