In the last 4 years 99%, sea turtles have been born female. The temperature of the sand influences their sex during their incubation period: the hotter the sand, there’s more probability of female newborns, leading to their eventual disappearence.

Banana Boat has been protecting the fun under the sun for decades, and now the brand is expanding its reach to protect other species that live in this planet from the damaging effects of rising global temperatures.

This can be done by lowering the temperature of the sand where their nests are located, reaching the pivotal temperature which is the temperature that guarantees an even proportion of female and male sea turtles.

The measures that have been taken to prevent the effects of global warming on the turtle population, in many cases, are still  precarious and not environmentally friendly. Considering that this species is classified as endangered, we should design a decisive and easy-to-implement solution for all the communities where the turtles nest.

Turtles are very important to the sea ecosystems in the world. They transfer many nutrients throughout marine ecosystems, move sand on beaches, feed on sponges and jellyfish, thereby maintaining control of these populations.

This work is relevant and of great significance in a field where funding is key to develop solutions that can be easily implemented, as well as creating a synergy between the local community, researchers and the species that urgently needs the help provided by Nest Domes.

Banana Boat in partnership with The Colombian Sea Turtle Conservation Program (ProCTMM) created an innovative and sustainable solution to protect turtles from the damaging effects of global warming: Nest Domes.

These are the first natural domes that regulate sand temperature on the beaches, influencing the conditions in terms of shading and ventilation needed to hatch an even proportion of female and male newborns, protecting them from an eventual disappearance.

Inspired by the organic shape of turtle’s shells and designed with the help of marine biologists, local artisans, designers, and engineers, Nest Domes were created with materials that make part of the sea turtle’s ecosystem.

Nest Domes are a global scale solution with an open-source blueprint that will be made available to everyone, with the hope that they will be made and installed on beaches globally to help +5 species of sea turtles.

Step 1: In partnership with The Colombian Sea Turtle Conservation Program (ProCTMM), we identified the issues that affect sea turtle species in the Caribbean.

Step 2: In partnership with marine biologists, local artisans, designers, and engineers we created prototypes to protect sea turtle nests from the damaging effects of global warming taking into account engineering principles as well as traditional knowledge.

Step 3: We executed a pilot to test the prototypes. After 8 iterations, we reached the final design after testing it and lowering the temperature by 4ºC in comparison to the external temperature

Step 4: Nest Domes were launched at the 41st International Sea Turtle Symposium and were acclaimed by the scientific community. The local community was trained into the use of the domes, implementing them all along the beaches of Santa Marta. Now are ready to be executed on several beaches around the world.

INVESTIGATION: Jun.-Sept. 2022

PROTOTYPING: Sept.-Dec. 2022

Turtle shells were the inspiration to craft incubating domes with materials found in the sea turtle’s ecosystem:

Caribbean wood from Santa Marta (Colombia)

Light wood to reflect sun rays

Internal cork layer, a natural coolant

Flaxseed oil coating to prevent humidity 

Handcrafted windows that push the hot air out of dome, known as “Natural Recirculation of Wind.”

TESTING: Oct.-Dec. 2022

Colombian Sea Turtle Conservation Program tested the prototypes in Santa Marta (Colombia). The final design was reached after 8 iterations, as it was able to lower the temperature of the sand by 4º C in comparison to the external temperature.

FINAL DESIGN: Feb. 2023

Officially launched at the 41st International Sea Turtle Symposium.

SCALE:

An open-source blueprint will be available online to help protect sea turtles worldwide.

We achieved to lower the temperature in the nests by 4º C in comparison to the external temperature, re-creating the pivotal temperature needed to achieve an even proportion of male and female sea turtles, having a positive impact on the future sea turtle population who are now classified as endangered.

Local community and fishermen participated and were trained in the use of the Nest Domes.

Nest-Domes are a global scale solution with an open-source blueprint that will be made available to everyone, with the hope that they will be made and installed on beaches globally to help +5 species of sea turtles.

The idea was acclaimed by the scientific community that was part of the 41st International Sea Turtle Symposium held in Cartagena, Colombia (March 2023).

Positive sentiment on the brand growth: 22 brand points

+1,8M impressions

+3 points Brand engage

+27 allied Conservation programs

+5 sea turtle species protected

Colombia and the Caribbean region are home of 5 of the 7 species of sea turtles in the world, a large part of the diversity of this species. Sea turtles are an endangered species where laws to protect them are not enforced by the authorities.

Banana Boat has a strong presence in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Perú, and Chile. All these countries have nesting beaches for most of these species.