Bright blue skies, beautiful beaches, the paradise on earth. A small island state shows courage and determination. On 01.01.2020, Palau is the first country in the world to pass a law prohibiting the sale and use of sunscreen with environmentally harmful ingredients.

The law demands nothing more than that tourists “to become part of the solution to the environmental challenges in our pristine paradise.”

Palau has often taken big steps to protect the environment and reef ecosystems. Already since 2015, almost the entire marine area around Palau has been designated as a Marine Protected Area. Fishing and the mining of raw materials is also prohibited. This small paradise has long been paying attention to environmentally friendly tourism and has now set its own standard for its natural treasures.

Palau, the model state

Palau is only a pioneer in this respect, and other states are already following suit.
A similar law is to come into force in Hawaii in 2021. In March 2020, a law against environmentally harmful ingredients will also come into force on the US Virgin Islands and the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire will follow the same example. The good news is that many companies are already looking for “solutions” and the number of sun creams and lotions containing harmful chemicals has already decreased.