Hawaii Sunscreen Ban Goes Into Effect Today

In 2018, Hawaii Governor David Ige signed a bill banning the sale and distribution of any sunscreen that contains oxybenzone or octinoxate. This bill goes into effect today, January 1, 2021.

A study conducted by Craig Downs, the executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, et al. published in 2015 found that oxybenzone damages coral colonies. The study notes that marine environments that commonly host sunscreened swimmers have degrading, deformed, and bleached coral colonies that fail to regenerate. According to NPR, up to 70% of all US produced sunscreens contain oxybenzone.

Even if you’re not headed to Hawaii anytime soon, you can help preserve coral environments by using reef safe sunscreen.