For many, summer is the perfect time to take a vacation and soak up the sun. But this year, tourists might need to double check their sunscreen labels before packing a carry-on.
With concerns about the impact sunscreen could have on coral reefs and oceans, many destinations renowned for pristine beaches, coral reefs, and water sports are enacting sunscreen bans.
“Several tropical destinations are banning certain sunscreens out of concern for the local environment, according to multiple reports. Although the ingredients found in sunblock, like oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octoerylene are safe for human use, they’ve been known to contribute to the bleaching of coral reefs, along with rising ocean temperatures,” explains People.
Read on for the latest updates on sunscreen bans in tropical destinations.
Aruba
On November 19, 2019 the Parliament of Aruba officially banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone, a common sun care ingredient, in Aruba.
The full ban went into effect in July 2020 and prohibits all imports, sales, and production of sunscreen containing oxybenzone.
“The island started to take a great step in the right direction back in 2017. Now, taking it even further with this great achievement, the island can look forward to cleaner and healthier coral reefs, beaches, and landscape!” explains VisitAruba.com.
Bonaire
A beloved locale for diving and snorkeling, this small island lies off Venezuela’s coast in the southern Caribbean.
In January 2021, Bonaire’s prohibition of the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate went into full effect.
Ecotourism Reserves in Mexico
There are now several ecotourism reserves in Mexico with various sunscreen rules for visitors. The spots are famous for water sports, snorkeling, and diving, including:
- Natural water resorts Xcaret Park and Xel-Ha Park now only allow the use of mineral sunscreens when swimming in subterranean rivers or cenotes
- Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park in Cozumel, which is part of an ecological preserve, only allows the use of reef-safe sunscreens
- Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park in Los Cabos bans any non-biodegradable sunscreen
Reef safe sunscreens are a hot 2021 trend
Hawaii
Hawaii was the first U.S. state to propose a sunscreen ban in 2018. Now, Hawaii’s sunscreen ban is officially in swing and prohibits the over-the-counter sale of sunscreen formulated with oxybenzone and octinoxate.
Hawaii is working to promote local, reef-safe sunscreen brands to tourists, including:
- Ao Organics
- Kona Skin Care
- Mama Kuleana
- Little Hands Hawaiʻi
- Raw Love
Additionally, the state has additional pending legislation to increase the list of banned sunscreen ingredients.
Palau
In 2018, President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., of the Republic of Palau, signed The Responsible Tourism Education Act of 2018 into law.
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are currently considered reef-safe
The law prohibits sunscreens containing ten ingredients from being imported, distributed, sold, manufactured in Palau and went into effect January 2020.
The law bans sunscreens containing parabens, triclosan, triclocarban, phenoxyethanol, and oxybenzone in Palau.
The law also essentially limits legal sunscreens to formulations that use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as their active ingredients.
Palau is the first country to enact a sunscreen ban.
U.S. Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature voted unanimously in 2019 to ban the sale, distribution, and import of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate. The “Toxic 3 Os” bill officially went into effect in March 2020.
“It is imperative that our coral and marine life are protected,” Lisa Hamilton, president of the U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association said in an official statement. “We are working with our membership to ensure visitors to our islands have access to safe sunscreens and are informed of the dangers posed by oxybenzone, octocrylene and octinoxate.”
The U.S. Virgin Islands were the first U.S. territory to enact a sunscreen ban.
