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Ingredients in Sunscreen Can Harm the Environment–So Why Aren’t More Brands Taking Action?

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26 Nov, 2024

This post was originally published on Good on You

Only a handful of brands are minimising the environmental impacts of their sunscreen products, according to new data from Good On You. Here’s what that means for the planet, and why more brands need to step up. 

Sunscreen can harm the environment

Oxybenzone is a UV filter used in many of the most popular sunscreens. Recently, there’s been a lot of debate about its effects on human health. But while everyone talks about whether it’s safe for people to put on their skin, few are thinking about what happens when it washes off as they’re swimming in the ocean, or when it rinses down the drain in the shower. Concerns are only increasing around the fate and toxicity of beauty and personal care products when they’re released into the environment—and much is still unknown, says Becca Willcox, beauty ratings manager at Good On You.

You see, some of the key ingredients in sunscreens have been found to seriously harm aquatic life and pollute our waterways and oceans, to the extent that some regions have even banned them. And new data from Good On You’s analysts shows that most brands selling sunscreens aren’t minimising the use of such ingredients—even though it’s entirely possible.

 

How sunscreen impacts marine life

We know a lot about sunscreen’s ability to protect people from the sun’s harmful rays—and this article is not intended to dissuade you from using it. But research suggests that oxybenzone and other ingredients found in sunscreens can contribute to coral bleaching, cause defects in young sea urchins and mussels, disrupt reproduction in fish and marine life, impair photosynthesis and growth of green algae, and cause behavioural changes in marine life.

“​​​​The sunscreen industry enjoys its sales numbers from tropical tourist destinations, but it comes at a cost of jeopardising the environmental integrity of the natural resources that draw tourists to a region,” explains Craig Downs, executive director at the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory (HEL), which is an authority on sunscreen pollution science.

When Good On You’s analysts rated 239 beauty brands, some of which are the biggest in the world, they found that while 58% of them sell suncare products, only a fraction—just 15%—sell products that are free from known pollutants.

That’s a big deal, because it means that the majority of sunscreens out there are inflicting real damage on wildlife, waterways, and oceans.

And once they’re out there in the environment, these ingredients really persist—they’ve been found in oceans, rivers, and lakes and are reportedly hard to remove from wastewater at treatment plants. “Although the wastewater treatment process can remove some of these chemicals, others can persist in the environment and pose a potential threat to ecosystems and human health,” explains Willcox. On top of that, some research suggests that the effects of global warming—specifically heat stress and ocean acidification—are exacerbating the ecotoxicological effects of these ingredients.

A word on organic and inorganic UV sunscreen filters

It’s worth understanding that there are two different kinds of filters used in sunscreen: organic filters (also known as chemical filters), which are absorbed into your skin and convert UV rays into heat, which then dissipates from the skin; and inorganic mineral filters (also known as physical filters), which create a barrier on top of your skin to reflect UV rays away. From an environmental standpoint, inorganic filters are suggested to be the better option of the two, but both kinds can contain ingredients that impact the planet.

 

Common sunscreen ingredients that are known pollutants

Downs’ organisation, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory (HEL), has published a list of chemicals that threaten ecosystems and are known to pollute marine environments or cause harm to wildlife including corals, fish, birds, marine mammals, and sea turtles. Among the substances listed are two key ingredients in many organic sunscreens—UV filters oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Organic sunscreens have now been banned in Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, and elsewhere due to their impact on marine ecosystems. And while such ingredients are still used in the industry, legislation and consumer demands have had an impact on their popularity, says Downs. “The number of products containing oxybenzone has declined by nearly 90% since we [HEL] published our first paper in 2016. I do not think this is because the industry made a ‘positive’ change but because educated consumers desired products to be environmentally sustainable,” he cautions. “I think this was a textbook example of the purchasing power of the informed consumer to demand a massive change of course from industry.”

Also on HEL’s list are any nanoparticle zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are frequently used in inorganic sunscreens. Though this type of sunscreen is considered a better option than organic ones, there’s evidence to suggest that such tiny nanoparticles can be toxic to marine life, and this is in contrast to traditional—or, micro-sized—zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are potentially less impactful since they aren’t as soluble. Downs explains that there are a lot of variables when it comes to determining the exact impact of inorganic sunscreens. Notably, the purity and form of the ingredient, whether it is contaminated with heavy metals, or whether the final formulation of the sunscreen includes other ingredients that might cause it to degrade before it even leaves the container.

But it’s not easy to keep these ingredients out of products, because chemicals can even contaminate ingredients before they reach a manufacturer as a result of being used earlier in the supply chain in a formulation for an ingredient, as is often the case with camphors in fragrances. That’s why it’s so vital for manufacturers to trace their entire supply chains and commit to publishing full ingredient lists alongside their products. Ingredient formulators and high level executives in sunscreen manufacturers must also take responsibility for shifting away from chemicals that pose a risk to the environment, Downs says.

Certifications can prove helpful in avoiding ecotoxic ingredients, but Willcox advises caution around some claims of marine or reef-safe products: “Sometimes these claims aren’t substantiated or backed up with science or a certification,” she explains. “It’s an area open to greenwashing, so I’d suggest consumers look out for research-backed certifications, such as the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory’s Protect Land and Sea certification.” It helps to ensure that no chemicals on the HEL list have been included in a product at any point in the supply chain. When Good On You analyses beauty brands, we check if they’ve committed to avoiding the ingredients on the HEL list, if they’re certified under Protect Land + Sea, or if they confirm they only use non-nano zinc oxide and titanium oxide in mineral sunscreen.

 

Meet the brands taking ecotoxicity seriously

Shockingly, out of the beauty brands Good On You rated, only one—Tropic—has certified the majority of its suncare products (90% or more) under HEL’s Protect Land + Sea.

And just a handful of brands say their suncare products are free from pollutants on the HEL list, though they haven’t got a certification to confirm it. Among them are: Biotherm (“It’s a Start”), Weleda (“It’s a Start”), La Rosée (“It’s a Start”), Kora Organics (“Good”), Odylique (“Great”), BYBI (“Good”), Upcircle Beauty (“Good”), Unbottled (“Good”), Respire (“It’s a Start”), and Pai Skincare (“Good”).

As Good On You continues to rate beauty brands in the coming months and years, it’s likely more brands will be added to this list. But for now, our research—which was representative of the industry as a whole and included both large and small brands—shows that most businesses just aren’t doing enough. This striking discovery reveals the urgency for more scientific research about the effects of suncare ingredients in our waterways, and for the industry as a whole to take environmental damage more seriously.

The post Ingredients in Sunscreen Can Harm the Environment–So Why Aren’t More Brands Taking Action? appeared first on Good On You.

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Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks has become essential as businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability. IT operations contribute significantly to carbon emissions, energy consumption and electronic waste (e-waste). Organisations that embed environmental responsibility into their IT governance can reduce their ecological footprint, improve operational efficiency and strengthen their brand reputation.

Erica Smith, chief alliance officer and environmental, social and governance lead, Blue Connections IT, said, “Environmental stewardship supports financial performance, risk mitigation and brand differentiation. With rising energy costs, increased consumer demand for sustainable products and services, and growing pressure from investors and regulators, companies can no longer afford to overlook their environmental responsibilities.

“Poor sustainability practices in IT can lead to high operational costs, supply chain risks and reputational damage. Conversely, a proactive approach improves efficiency, attracts environmentally conscious customers and helps future-proof businesses against evolving policy and regulatory changes.

“Integrating environmental responsibility into IT governance integrates sustainability initiatives into decision-making systematically. Organisations can reduce waste, lower energy consumption and extend the lifecycle of technology assets while positioning themselves as responsible leaders in an increasingly climate-aware market.”

There are four key areas that present opportunities to embed environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks.

1. Device lifecycle management

A structured approach to managing the lifecycle of IT assets ensures devices are deployed efficiently, maintained properly and retired responsibly at the end of their useful life. Embracing a circular economy model, where equipment is refurbished, reused or ethically recycled, can significantly reduce e-waste and resource use. Companies that adopt this approach lower their environmental impact and unlock financial value by extending the lifecycle of IT assets.

Smith said, “Effective asset recovery strategies further support sustainability efforts. Integrating secure data erasure and refurbishment into IT governance policies lets businesses repurpose functional devices within the organisation or resell them to external buyers. Responsible e-waste recycling also supports companies to process materials ethically in instances where resale is not viable, reducing landfill contributions and preventing environmental contamination. The adoption of industry-certified data sanitisation methods also safeguards compliance with security and privacy regulations.”

2. Sustainable procurement

IT governance frameworks should prioritise the selection of technology vendors and partners committed to sustainable manufacturing, responsible sourcing and energy-efficient product design. This includes favouring IT hardware with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials and using minimal packaging. Additionally, employing Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) models optimises IT asset utilisation while reducing upfront investment and unnecessary hardware purchases.

Partnerships with sustainability-driven IT service providers can further enhance an organisation’s environmental impact. Working with partners that offer end-to-end IT asset management solutions, encompassing secure device deployment, certified data sanitisation and ethical recycling, simplifies the process of aligning IT operations with sustainability goals. Companies that prioritise environmental stewardship in their IT governance framework gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating their commitment to responsible business practices.

3. Energy consumption

Data centres, cloud services and enterprise networks require substantial energy resources, making green IT practices essential. IT governance frameworks should include policies to reduce consumption by optimising server efficiency, reducing redundant infrastructure and using renewable energy sources. Cloud providers with strong sustainability credentials can support carbon reduction initiatives, while virtualisation strategies can consolidate workloads and improve overall energy efficiency.

4. Employee engagement

Educating staff on sustainable IT practices, such as energy-efficient device usage and responsible e-waste disposal, creates a culture of accountability. Organisations that implement green workplace initiatives, such as responsible end-of-life disposal programs, reinforce their commitment to sustainability at all levels.

“IT governance must also align with corporate environmental, social and governance commitments. Companies can contribute to broader sustainability objectives by embedding environmental stewardship into IT policies, such as net-zero emissions targets and responsible supply chain management. Clear reporting mechanisms and regular sustainability audits aid transparency, letting businesses track their progress and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders,” Smith said.

Government regulations and evolving industry standards are increasingly shaping the sustainability expectations for organisations. Aligning IT governance frameworks with best practices for environmental stewardship keeps companies ahead of regulatory requirements. Proactive adoption of sustainable IT practices positions businesses as industry leaders in environmental responsibility.

Smith said, “Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks is not just about meeting compliance obligations; it’s about futureproofing company operations and prioritising the broader environment. Taking a proactive approach to sustainability lets organisations drive efficiency, reduce long-term costs and contribute to a healthier planet. Businesses that lead in sustainable IT governance will be well-positioned for long-term success as environmental concerns continue to shape consumer and corporate priorities.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Petmal

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