Are ‘Reef-Safe Sunscreens’ Actually Reef-Safe?

It’s less of an age-old question and more one that’s surfaced over the last decade: are ‘reef-safe sunscreens’ actually reef-safe? Let’s unpack it, shall we?

As our coral reefs decline – over 50 percent of the world’s reefs are estimated to have been lost since the 1950s – sunscreen companies are increasingly calling upon us to shop ‘reef-safe’ in a bid to stop the devastating destruction of our oceans.

However, saving our reefs isn’t as straightforward as shopping a reef-safe sunscreen instead of its alternatives.

With a term that’s quite confusing, unclear and largely unregulated, how can we be sure what a claim like ‘reef-safe’ even means and whether or not it’s just another marketing ploy?

We spoke to Ava Matthews, co-founder of popular Aussie sunscreen brand Ultraviolette, on how she’s navigated the grey area surrounding reef-safe sunscreen and what she really thinks about it all.

“We avoid the term reef-safe because there is a huge caveat to making this claim,” she told beautyheaven.

In saying that, “none of the range contain oxybenzone which is the most demonised SPF active by countries [and] islands who have decided to ban some SPF actives.”

What are the chemicals and ingredients to look out for?

Oxybenzone and octinoxate are the two main culprits that reef-safe sunscreens are omitting from their formulations. In fact, Hawaii placed a ban on any sunscreens formulated with the chemicals in 2018.

During several studies, both oxybenzone and octinoxate have shown signs of harmfully impacting coral, marine life and aquatic plants, though it’s important to consider the variables that exist within a lab and the ocean.

“A lot of those studies report toxicity, but the real question is whether the organisms are being exposed to a level of that chemical they would ever see in the environment,” ecotoxicologist, Timothy Bargar, PhD, told Consumer Reports.

“Even in areas popular with swimmers, and with the highest concentrations of sunscreen chemicals, the levels of those chemicals in the water, on average, are still quite a bit lower than those reported in the majority of studies to be toxic to marine life,” he added. Of course, that’s not to assume that lower, longer-term exposure won’t have a detrimental impact.

What about mineral sunscreens?

Mineral sunscreens contain titanium dioxide and zinc dioxide and operate by deflecting the sun’s rays from the skin. To be considered ‘reef-safe’, experts say it ultimately comes down to its particle size.

Basically, not all mineral sunscreens are created with an equal particle size. And more often than not, products don’t disclose this information. Minerals can be classified as ‘nano’ which means they’re smaller than 100 nanometers or ‘no-nano,’ larger than 100 nanometers. According to environmental engineer, Dr Tracy Fanara, nano particles are small enough to be ingested by marine life (which includes coral and can cause a reaction making them toxic to phytoplankton – an essential nutrient for the survival of many coral species), she told The Zoe Report.

Seeking out a mineral sunscreen which contains ‘no-nano’ particles can be classified as reef-safe.

So, should we be shopping reef-safe?

Yes, as long as you don’t allow your contribution and education on this topic to begin and end there.

There’s nothing harmful about a ‘reef-safe’ formulation. It’s the mentality around potential greenwashing that has the experts concerned. By placing the blame solely on sunscreen, we’re at risk of ignoring a larger issue at play. Experts believe a danger arises when we become reliant on purchasing ‘reef-safe’ sunscreen as the solution to saving our coral reefs.

Why? Because we’re at risk of sleeping on other, more pressing impacts such as climate change. “It’s easier for governments to ban a couple of ingredients than it is to make meaningful change.” Ava says.

When evaluating the bigger picture, threats to our reef and ocean like rising temperatures and acidification far trump those of sunscreen.

And while we’re always in favour of calling BS on a company making claims that are unsubstantiated in a bid to make a profit, seeking out a more responsible SPF such as a nano particle mineral sunscreen won’t change the world, but it won’t hurt.

Will Australia follow in Hawaii’s footsteps?

Undetermined, however, not everyone is in favour of this as a solution anyway.

Ava explains, “unfortunately, the research used to make [Hawaii’s] decision is not conclusive or settled and many experts who spend more time researching coral (coral scientists and marine scientists) do not actually agree that banning certain filters was a wise move.”

“It completely shifts the focus away from the biggest cause of coral bleaching which is rising water temperatures caused by climate change (and just climate change in general). Hence, greenwashing,” she says.

What are some other steps we can take to protect our reefs?

Great question. Without a doubt there are sun-protective measures we can take that won’t have a detrimental impact on our environment. Obviously, protective clothing.

Instead of lathering sunscreen across your entire body, wear a rash vest or sun shirt as you snorkel, scuba dive or head into the ocean. This is a method that won’t be disputed, no matter which side of the ‘reef-safe sunscreen’ fence you sit on.

Consider switching to plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars to minimise plastic in our oceans. Where possible, opt for a meat and seafood-free diet to help ease the impact on climate change.

Don’t support fast fashion industries and research your government policies. Understand their stance on protecting our oceans and vote in line with what you believe. Choosing the right SPF is a great place to start, but there’s always more to be done!

Main image credit: Getty

Do you use a reef-safe sunscreen? If so, which one?