A popular Australian sun-care and cosmetics business named after the nation’s most famous beach has been hit with a class action in the United States over claims its sunscreens are harmful to the environment, despite its claims to be “reef friendly”.
The class action complaint filed in the US District Court in northern California claims that Bondi Sands’ US operation has “reaped millions of dollars through this fraudulent scheme based on a calculated business decision to put profits over people and the environment”. “Our sunscreen products are made in Australia and are compliant with TGA regulations, which are the strongest SPF guidelines in the world, and are compliant with strict EU and FDA laws,” the company said in a statement.on Friday, Bondi Sands made significant changes to its website regarding its definition of “reef friendly”.
“Our entire sun-care range is free of the two ingredients that are harmful towards our reefs, oxybenzone and octinoxate, and we will continue to evolve our product formulations with direction of both local and international authorities,” the website said on Friday. But last year, the Hawaii State Legislature also introduced laws banning the sale of sunscreens that contain avobenzone and octocrylene that come into effect in 2023.