Hawaii Gov. David Ige has signed a statewide bill banning the purchase and distribution of sunscreens that damage coral reefs, making Hawaii the first state to do so.
The bill, originally proposed by state Sen. Mike Gabbard in May, will go into effect in 2021. It is specifically aimed at sunscreens that contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, both of which help absorb UVB and UVA rays when applied to the skin. A number of sunscreens from popular brands like Banana Boat, Coppertone and Australian Gold contain either oxybenzone or octinoxate, according to a search of the Environmental Working Group’s cosmetics ingredients database.