The Brief Ep 19: Coral Care – the story behind the world’s first reef nourishing sunscreen

An estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in the world’s oceans every year, and as many as 80% of ordinary sunscreens contain chemicals that contribute to coral bleaching and dying reefs. But what if there was a sunscreen and a certification that would help coral instead of harming it?

In this episode, we unpack the story behind an incredibly ambitious project to not only create the world’s first coral-nourishing sunscreen but launch a new sunscreen certification that encourages other manufacturers to protect coral from toxic chemicals.

What started with an idea four years ago has now turned into a Cannes Lions winning project with over 30 partners around the world. Join the team behind the project and discover the story behind Coral Care.

What we cover in the episode

• The shocking stats that triggered the idea
• From concept to formula: the journey to product development
• The reality of going beyond the creative comfort zone
• The importance of partners in achieving success
• Working with Stream2Sea and the University of Derby
• The road to Cannes and the impact of winning a Lion
• Entering phase two with the world’s first Reef Protection Certification
• How the team took the project global
• What’s next for Coral Care and RPF

Learn more about Coral Care here and RPF here.

About the speakers

Jon Elsom is Group Executive Creative Director at McCann. Jon has spent nearly 30 years in the communications business, creating effective and award-winning campaigns for clients in all sectors such as Qatar Airways, Mastercard and Vauxhall. For Jon it's all about creating outstanding work that cuts through and transforms clients' brands.

Alex Smith is Senior Copywriter at McCann, and one half of the ‘Britzilian’ creative duo with Fred Corazza. Alex and Fred are the team behind Coral Care and are always looking to push boundaries with their work. The duo try to tell real stories that connect with people around the world.

Sophie Churchill is Business Director at McCann. She is experienced in delivering impactful, multi-channel campaigns across diverse industries - including FMCG, tourism & travel, healthcare & beauty, domestic appliances and consumer electronics. She is passionate about long term brand building, delivering work that has meaning, built on insights and human truths. Coral Care is a passion project that sits perfectly within Sophie's values.