The makers of two popular sunscreen brands allegedly misled environmentally conscious shoppers by labelling products as ‘reef friendly’.
Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens contained allegedly widespread false and potentially misleading representations on more than 90 products between 2020 and 2024, the consumer watchdog claimed on Tuesday.
The brands’ owner Edgewell labelled the sunscreens as ‘reef friendly’ claiming they did not contain two ingredients known to cause damage to reefs.
But the sunscreens included other ingredients that cause harm to marine life, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says.
The claims are detailed in a lawsuit filed in the Federal Court on Monday evening against the US personal care company and its Australian arm.
Court documents allege Edgewell ‘took advantage of consumers’ concerns about the environmental impact of ‘products on reefs’.
But the company also knew of scientific studies and reports that found these ingredients can negatively affect reefs.
The personal care company’s claims had ‘no reasonable or scientific basis’ and affected both its competitors and consumers, the watchdog said on Tuesday.
Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens contained allegedly widespread false and potentially misleading representations on more than 90 products between 2020 and 2024, the consumer watchdog claimed on Tuesday
The brands’ owner Edgewell labelled the sunscreens as ‘reef friendly’ claiming they did not contain two ingredients known to cause damage to reefs
Explosive TGA development after 16 of Australia’s most trusted sunscreens failed SPF test in bombshell CHOICE report
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will investigate CHOICE’s bombshell report that revealed 16 out of 20 popular sunscreens failed to meet Australia’s strict SPF 50+ regulations.
The consumer watchdog tested 20 of the country’s most trusted sunscreen products to see if they provided the Sun Protection Factor 50 levels they claim on their labels.
In a worrying finding, 16 of the 20 sunscreens failed to provide that level of protection – including big brands such as Cancer Council, Neutrogena, Banana Boat, Bondi Sands, Coles and Woolworths.
But the most alarming results came from one of the most expensive sunscreens tested – Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF50+ Mattifying Zinc Sunscreen, which retails for $52.
Read more here.
‘Businesses should not shy away from promoting the environmental credentials of their products, but they must be able to substantiate any claims,’ deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.
‘By engaging in this alleged greenwashing, we say Edgewell deprived consumers of the ability to make an informed decision and may have prevented them from purchasing a different brand of sunscreen that did not contain chemicals which risked causing harm to reefs.’
Edgewell removed ‘reef-friendly’ tags off its US products in 2020 but allegedly continued the branding in Australia until December 2024.
The ACCC is seeking penalties, costs and other court orders.
Edgewell has been contacted for comment.
The lawsuit comes after testing of popular sunscreens by consumer advocacy group CHOICE found some major sunscreen brands failed to meet their SPF labels.
Several brands disputed the consumer group’s claims.
