Reef-friendly sunscreen

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. In 2015 almost the entire waters surrounding Palau have been designated as a Marine Protected Area. Fishing and the mining of raw materials have mostly been 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 is only a pioneer in this respect, and other countries are already following suit.
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. A similar law is to come into force in Hawaii in 2021. 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.
Avoid the following ingredients!
In the past, researches have focused on the effects of oxybenzone, one of many sunscreens’ ingredients, which is harming corals. A new shocking study showed that microparticles used in sunscreens are likely to cause abnormalities in sea life as they disrupt key hormones. Nano-materials are affecting our environment big time.
Environmental Health Perspectives estimated that in 2008 (just imagine how much it is now) 14 000 tons of sunscreen was deposited worldwide.
Obviously, the most sustainable things for you and the environment would be to stay out of the sun altogether or cover-up. However, we realize that’s not always possible, nor do we want to stay out of the sun forever.
To minimize the impact of your sun-protection on the environment, keep the following in mind:
Do a little research before purchasing your sunscreen. Check the list of ingredients and always oft for the simplest option.
Keep in mind that you will need a much smaller amount of mineral sunscreen compared to chemical ones. Mineral sunscreens might take some getting used to as you need to rub them in to avoid looking like a ghost. Their texture is a lot different from what you are used to.
Because you need so much less product, mineral sunscreen is also super light- weight!