The importance of reef-safe sunscreen

Georgia Strack
Aug 22
3 min read

Image shows a beach in Hawaii with beachgoers on the sand and in the sea

With summer sun high in the sky, the one thing we all need to be keeping on top of is our SPF.

Applying and re-applying sunscreen is an important aspect of daily life to keep our skin happy and healthy. But we also need to think about keeping our lands and oceans happy and healthy. And we need to keep in mind the products we take with us into the oceans can have a negative impact on the aquatic life around us.

Unfortunately some of the common ingredients found in conventional sunscreens include oxybenzone and octinoxate. These chemicals are amongst some of the most harmful ingredients for aquatic life and contribute to a negative environmental impact caused by sunscreen.

Coral reef ecosystems are under worldwide pressure from global stressors such as climate change, water pollution and over-fishing. And more recently, sunscreen pollution. The majority of the sunscreens used by the everyday individual contain these chemicals that are toxic to coral reefs, even in small usages.

14,000 tons of sunscreen are thought to wash into oceans each year. These sunscreens contain particles that cause disruption for coral reef growth cycles and reproduction, and can lead to coral bleaching.

Some sought after travel destinations such as Hawaii, have banned the use of harmful sunscreens. Lawmakers passed a bill banning the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, amongst other chemicals, in the hopes of reducing the amount of harmful chemicals that come into contact with the local reefs. Reef-safe sunscreen is encouraged and available to buy instead.

Instead of continuing to use sunscreens containing harmful chemicals, and turning a blind eye to the damage they do, there are many ways to make changes.

The first step is to switch to using reef-safe sunscreens. These are any sunscreens that do not contain the harmful chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, or any others for that matter. An easy solution is to check what is in the sunscreen we use, by simply reading the labels on the back of products it will help us make a more informed decision. We want to be using sunscreens free of these chemicals and instead turn to products with more mineral based ingredients such as zinc oxide.

Image shows a sign against unsafe sunscreen and a list of harmful ingredients. Image from Reef Safe Suncreen Guide | Save The Reef

Another change that can be made is one that we might not immediately think about, skipping aerosol sunscreen sprays. When using the aerosols it is easy to miss the body and end up spraying large amounts of sunscreen onto the sand, unknowingly usually. But the chemicals that now lay all over the sand can get washed into the ocean and result in absorption that way. So it is easier altogether to just skip the aerosol sprays.

There are lists we can check that help us determine which sunscreens are reef safe. However, ‘reef-friendly’ is not a regulated distinction so the best bet is not to always trust a label on a bottle and instead make sure we’re checking the active ingredients list. We are usually looking for zinc oxide or titanium oxide to determine if it is reef friendly.

There are also apps on the market such as Yuka, that allow us to scan barcodes of products while in store to see what ingredients are included and the chemicals listed. This helps to make a decision at the point of purchase and points us to which products are safe or not.

Image shows reef safe sunscreen products laid out on a beach

A final solution that reduces sunscreen use is to wear protective SPF clothing. Items such as hats or shirts with UV protection reduce the amount of sunscreen needed and also keeps us more protected from the damage of the sun. This reduces the amount of sunscreen that gets washed into the ocean and keeps us safer for longer. A win-win solution.

Loss of coral reefs would be a loss of a major marine ecosystem, and cause devastating damage to our oceans. We need to ensure these critical areas remain protected and we all do our part to make a change.