[Edaily Reporter KIM EUNG-TAE ] Cosmetics ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) company KOLMAR KOREA(161890)has established a cosmetic toxicity testing system using marine corals and demonstrated the environmental safety of its sunscreen products.

KOLMAR KOREA announced on the 6th that it had passed environmental toxicity tests administered by the French environmental toxicity assessment agency “ReefTox.”
ReefTox is a specialized agency that tests and evaluates the impact of cosmetics on marine ecosystems. As an official partner of “SGS Holdings,” a global certification body, it verifies environmental toxicity by comprehensively measuring bleaching, tissue loss rates, and survival rates after exposing coral to products for a specified period. Since corals are not classified as laboratory animals under current regulations, this method is recognized as an alternative means of scientifically verifying the impact of products on marine ecosystems in the cosmetics industry, where animal testing is prohibited.
Last year, KOLMAR KOREA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ReefTox, becoming the only company in Korea to secure the ReefTox testing system, and conducted ReefTox tests on two types of sunscreens (mineral and chemical). The test results showed that neither product exhibited significant toxicity to coral. KOLMAR KOREA official explained, “Through the ReefTox testing, we have demonstrated our technical capability to develop sunscreens that are safe for coral reefs, while also establishing a verification system that provides scientific evidence for our clients’ ‘Reef Friendly’ products.”
KOLMAR KOREA established this certification system in response to tightening regulations on sunscreens aimed at protecting marine ecosystems in global markets such as the United States, the European Union (EU), and Australia. Since the South Pacific island nation of Palau banned the use of products containing certain sunscreen ingredients in 2020, interest in product development and verification that considers the impact on the marine environment has continued to grow.
Based on this verification system, KOLMAR KOREA plans to actively support its clients’ entry into global markets. The company intends to increase access to coral toxicity testing to help clients respond more effectively to the eco-friendly sun care market. A KOLMAR KOREA official stated, “Going forward, we will actively support our clients’ development of eco-friendly products and their entry into overseas markets based on our verification system and technical capabilities that meet global standards.”