Reef Safe Sunscreen Thailand:
In an effort to safe Thailand’s coral reefs, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has banned sunscreens that contain certain, coral damaging ingredients.
Be aware that if you bring un- reef safe sunscreens into Thailand or use those sunscreens you can be fined up to 100,000 Baht (approx. USD 2,750 or EUR 2,800).
How they plan to enforce this new rule is still unclear. We feel that the Tourism Authority of Thailand should make a better effort informing tourists of this new rule. So far they have only published this article on their website.
The 4 ingredients on the banned list are:
– Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3, BP-3)
– Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate)
– 4-Methylbenzylid Camphor (4MBC)
– Butylparaben
Thailand follows a trend used by other nations who ban un- reef safe sunscreens. Palau was the first nation to ban sunscreens with 10 chemicals to be believed damaging the marine environment.
Around the same time in the beginning of 2020, the US state Hawaii issued a similar ban.
Other countries and areas have since issued similar bans.
In addition to the above you should only use “very water resistant” sunscreens (also called waterproof). Instead of using sunscreens who claim to be waterproof, you should make your own research and try it for yourself. If a sunscreen is difficult to apply or even crumbles, than it is most likely that its chemicals will wash of easily when swimming.
Did you know that…
Did you know that…
sunscreens claiming “waterproof” or “water resistant” only need 50% of their UV filters left after 40 minutes in water? If they were applied as an SPF50 – they are now an SPF25.
So where did 50% of the chemicals go?
Many, so called “reef safe sunscreens” do not contain the 4 banned ingredients, but contain other chemicals that wash off easily and enter the marine environment.
Reef safe sunscreen Thailand
Using common sense, you should use a sunscreen that will not leak ANY chemicals into the ocean.
Use a sunscreen with a water in oil based formula. Because of this special formula, ingredients do not dilute in water. They do not release chemicals into the ocean (or into your human bloodstream for that matter…).
All Safe Sea sunscreens are water in oil based. In addition they do not contain the chemicals on the banned list. NONE of Safe Sea sunscreens ingredients will leak into the ocean, making it extremely reef friendly.
Therefore Safe Sea sunscreens were certified by the independent Friend of the Sea organization.
