Top sunscreen brands face court over false claims on popular products
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If you’re like most Aussies, you know that sunscreen is a non-negotiable part of life under our harsh sun.
Whether you’re heading to the beach, pottering in the garden, or just popping out for a walk, a good slather of SPF is as essential as your hat and sunnies.
But what if the sunscreen you trust to protect your skin—and the environment—hasn’t been telling you the whole truth?
That’s the burning question at the heart of a new legal battle, as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) takes on the parent companies behind two of Australia’s most popular sunscreen brands: Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic.
The watchdog alleges these brands have been engaging in 'greenwashing'—making their products sound more environmentally friendly than they really are.
For years, both Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic have proudly displayed 'reef friendly' logos on their packaging, websites, and social media.
Their sunscreens are safe for our precious coral reefs, a big selling point for eco-conscious Aussies who want to do the right thing by the planet while protecting their skin.
But according to the ACCC, these claims may not be as watertight as they seem.
The watchdog alleges that more than 90 sunscreen products were marketed as 'reef-friendly' without a solid scientific basis.
While the brands did remove two chemicals—oxybenzone and octinoxate—that are banned in places like Hawaii for their proven harm to coral, the ACCC says the products still contain other ingredients that could be risky for marine life.
The ACCC points to several other chemicals found in these sunscreens, including octocrylene, homosalate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Some studies suggest these ingredients may also harm coral and marine ecosystems, though the science is still evolving.
What’s more, the ACCC claims that Edgewell Personal Care (the parent company) was aware of research raising concerns about these ingredients, but didn’t commission its own testing to confirm whether its products were truly safe for reefs.
For many of us, choosing a 'reef-friendly' sunscreen isn’t just about marketing—it’s about making a conscious choice to protect Australia’s world-famous reefs, like the Great Barrier Reef, for future generations.
The ACCC’s deputy chair, Catriona Lowe, says that by making these claims without proper evidence, the companies deprived consumers of the ability to make an informed decision and may have prevented them from purchasing a different brand of sunscreen that did not contain chemicals that risked causing harm to reefs.'
In other words, if you bought one of these sunscreens thinking you were doing the right thing for the environment, you might have been misled.
The ACCC has launched Federal Court action against Edgewell Personal Care Australia and its US-based parent company.
The case will test whether the 'reef-friendly' claims were misleading and whether the companies had any reasonable scientific basis for making them.
Edgewell, for its part, says it stands by its products and will defend the claims in court.
The company has cooperated with the ACCC’s investigation but isn’t commenting further while the case is ongoing.
This case is just the latest example of 'greenwashing'—when companies exaggerate or fabricate their environmental credentials to win over eco-conscious shoppers.
The ACCC has made it clear that businesses must be able to back up their green claims with solid evidence, not just marketing spin.
For us as consumers, it’s a reminder to read labels carefully, ask questions, and not be afraid to challenge companies on their claims.
After all, every purchase is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.
Have you ever chosen a sunscreen (or any product) because it claimed to be 'reef friendly' or environmentally safe? Do you feel misled by these kinds of marketing tactics? Or do you have a favourite truly eco-friendly sunscreen you’d recommend to other members? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Read more: Clorox hit with $8.25 million fine for misleading green claims—what you need to know
Whether you’re heading to the beach, pottering in the garden, or just popping out for a walk, a good slather of SPF is as essential as your hat and sunnies.
But what if the sunscreen you trust to protect your skin—and the environment—hasn’t been telling you the whole truth?
That’s the burning question at the heart of a new legal battle, as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) takes on the parent companies behind two of Australia’s most popular sunscreen brands: Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic.
The watchdog alleges these brands have been engaging in 'greenwashing'—making their products sound more environmentally friendly than they really are.
For years, both Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic have proudly displayed 'reef friendly' logos on their packaging, websites, and social media.
Federal Court action has been launched against sunscreen brands over alleged false or misleading 'reef-friendly' claims on more than 90 products. Credit: ACCC
Their sunscreens are safe for our precious coral reefs, a big selling point for eco-conscious Aussies who want to do the right thing by the planet while protecting their skin.
But according to the ACCC, these claims may not be as watertight as they seem.
The watchdog alleges that more than 90 sunscreen products were marketed as 'reef-friendly' without a solid scientific basis.
While the brands did remove two chemicals—oxybenzone and octinoxate—that are banned in places like Hawaii for their proven harm to coral, the ACCC says the products still contain other ingredients that could be risky for marine life.
The ACCC points to several other chemicals found in these sunscreens, including octocrylene, homosalate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Some studies suggest these ingredients may also harm coral and marine ecosystems, though the science is still evolving.
What’s more, the ACCC claims that Edgewell Personal Care (the parent company) was aware of research raising concerns about these ingredients, but didn’t commission its own testing to confirm whether its products were truly safe for reefs.
For many of us, choosing a 'reef-friendly' sunscreen isn’t just about marketing—it’s about making a conscious choice to protect Australia’s world-famous reefs, like the Great Barrier Reef, for future generations.
The ACCC’s deputy chair, Catriona Lowe, says that by making these claims without proper evidence, the companies deprived consumers of the ability to make an informed decision and may have prevented them from purchasing a different brand of sunscreen that did not contain chemicals that risked causing harm to reefs.'
The ACCC has launched Federal Court action against Edgewell Personal Care Australia and its US-based parent company.
The case will test whether the 'reef-friendly' claims were misleading and whether the companies had any reasonable scientific basis for making them.
Edgewell, for its part, says it stands by its products and will defend the claims in court.
The company has cooperated with the ACCC’s investigation but isn’t commenting further while the case is ongoing.
This case is just the latest example of 'greenwashing'—when companies exaggerate or fabricate their environmental credentials to win over eco-conscious shoppers.
For us as consumers, it’s a reminder to read labels carefully, ask questions, and not be afraid to challenge companies on their claims.
After all, every purchase is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.
Read more: Clorox hit with $8.25 million fine for misleading green claims—what you need to know
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