Australia’s consumer regulator, ACCC, has initiated legal proceedings against Edgewell Personal Care, the company behind popular sunscreens such as Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat, due to claims of “reef-friendly” labeling. The lawsuit asserts that the sunscreens are marketed with environmental claims that lack a valid scientific foundation and may potentially harm coral and marine ecosystems.
The legal action follows a Choice investigation which found that many sunscreens did not offer the level of sun protection indicated on their packaging. ACCC’s deputy chair, Catriona Lowe, stated that Edgewell’s “greenwashing” could mislead a substantial number of consumers. Greenwashing involves organizations making misleading or exaggerated environmental claims.
The sunscreens in question were sold in Australia from 2020 to 2024 with “reef-friendly” claims, sometimes featuring imagery of coral. Edgewell maintains they will defend the products’ claims, indicating that this is an active litigation and that they will not provide further comments.
Additionally, Banana Boat was among the sunscreens that Choice reported did not provide the level of skin protection it claimed, with its SPF50+ product testing at merely 35.
The SPF of a sunscreen indicates how well it protects against sunburn by blocking ultraviolet radiation. If you would like to sign up for breaking news, you can do so by visiting the provided link.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/01/hawaiian-tropic-banana-boat-sunscreen-accused-of-greenwashing-by-accc-reef-friendly
