When in Hawaii, you’re definitely going to need an effective sunscreen that protects you from the sun. A good reef-safe sunscreen is so important to use as there are so many harmful chemicals in regular sunscreens.
According to the National Park Service, it’s estimated that 4,000-6,000 tons of sunscreen wash off from swimmers per year into oceans across the world. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are the two most harmful chemicals in sunscreens to stay away from because they lead to coral bleaching for our reefs. When the coral is bleached, it has a hard time coming back to life and further impacts ocean ecosystems. On January 1st, 2021 a Hawaii bill to ban harmful sunscreen chemicals became effective.
It can be difficult to look for good reef-safe sunscreen companies that don’t greenwash their products. Make sure to look for ones that are mineral-based that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide made without nanoparticles. These mineral-based sunscreens provide immediate protection, unlike regular ones where you have to wait 20-30 minutes before sun exposure. As an environmental marketing agency, we take pride in supporting businesses who want to make a difference for the world. Here are a few environmental businesses we recommend!
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