Hawaii became the first state to ban
chemical sunscreens in order to protect the state’s coral reefs and marine life.
According to Beauty Independent, Governor David Ige signed a bill that will ban the sale and distribution of certain sunscreens in the state by Jan. 1, 2021
that contain two chemicals: oxybenzone and octinoxate. It is believed that these substances are a great danger to coral reefs and marine ecosystems.
This ban is set to change the sunscreen market since indie brands have lead the way in producing mineral sunscreens centered on titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to physically block the sun’s rays. Many customers will begin switching away from drugstore brands including Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone, and Banana Boat, in order to meet these requirements.
The next step is for these companies to execute the necessary adjustments in order to comply the Hawaii ban and introduce mineral alternatives.
“This bill is a small first step worldwide to really caring about our corals and our reefs in a way that no one else anywhere in the world has done,” said David Ige during the bill signing event.
He added, “We are blessed in Hawaii to be home of some of the most beautiful natural resources on the planet, but our natural environment is fragile, and our own interaction with the Earth can have everlasting impacts.”
It’s known that coral reefs have numerous benefits, specifically for Hawaii itself, such as protecting the coastline, harboring marine life and it’s one the most important tourist attractions.
Among the predictions from sunscreen experts on the repercussions from this measure, is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will allow additional sunscreen ingredients, which mean that if the list of sunscreen ingredients increases, then the variety of eco-friendly products on the market could expand.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
8 Eco-Friendly Swimwear Brands to Enjoy a Great Summer
