Alba Botanica Hawaiian ‘Reef-Friendly’ Sunscreens Contain Banned Petrochemicals, Class Action Alleges

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Alba Botanica ‘Reef-Friendly’ Sunscreen Class Action Lawsuit Summary:

• Who: The maker of Alba Botanica sunscreen is being sued by a consumer.
• Why: The consumer alleges The Hain Celestial Group, Inc sells “reef-friendly” sunscreen under the Alba Botanica brand that actually contains petrochemicals harmful to reefs.
• Where: A nationwide Class of consumers.

Alba Botanica sunscreen, sold nationwide, claims to be “reef-friendly,” but actually contains petrochemicals that are so harmful to reefs the ingredients have been banned in Hawaii, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Lead plaintiff Heidi Anderberg filed the class action against The Hain Celestial Group, Inc on Oct. 20 in California federal court, alleging its Alba Botanica Hawaiian ‘Reef-Friendly’ sunscreens are falsely advertised. 

Anderberg says, despite marketing its Hawaiian sunscreens as being “friendly” to reefs, the Alba Botanica brand products actually contain two petrochemicals banned by the island state’s senate.

“Following the 2018 bill passed by the Hawai’i Senate banning oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreens, Hawai’i has passed a bill banning the two additional harmful petrochemicals, avobenzone and octocrylene, which are toxic to human health, coral reefs and marine species,” the class action states.

Octocrylene has also been banned in sunscreen products sold in the US Virgin Islands, in Key West, Florida, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the lawsuit says.

Anderberg alleges the company is falsely advertising the sunscreens in an attempt to charge customers more for sunblock. Some of the sunscreens sell for upwards of $17. 

“Defendant is making a profit from consumers who are attempting to be ecologically conscious and paying a higher price for a product in order to accomplish this goal,” Anderberg says. 

The class action lawsuit identifies dozens of Alba Botanica sunscreens that allegedly contain toxic, reef killing chemicals. Some of the products listed include: 

• Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Coconut Clear Spray 50
• Alba Botanica Cool Sport Sunscreen Refreshing Clear Spray 50
• Alba Botanica Kids Sunscreen Tropical Fruit Clear Spray 50
• Alba Botanica Sensitive Sunscreen Fragrance Free Clear Spray 50 
• Alba Botanica Maximum Sunscreen Fragrance Free Clear Spray 70 
• Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Aloe Vera 30 (cream version) 
• Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Green Tea (cream version)
• Alba Botanica Soothing Sunscreen Pure Lavender 45 (cream version) 
• Alba Botanica Kids Sunscreen Tropical Fruit 45 (cream version)
• Alba Botanica Sport Sunscreen Fragrance Free 45 (cream version) 
• Alba Botanica Sweet Pea Sheer Shield Sunscreen 45 (cream version) 
• Alba Botanica Sensitive Sheer Shield Sunscreen 45 (cream version) 
• Alba Botanica Facial Sheer Shield Sunscreen 45 (cream version)
• Alba Botanica Fast Fix Sun Stick 30

Alba Botanica Sunscreen Maker Joins Others Facing ‘Reef Friendly” False Ad Class Actions

This is the latest in a string of class action lawsuits alleging various brands have been misrepresenting sunscreens as “reef-friendly” or “reef-conscious” when they actually harm and kill delicate coral reefs and the sea life that relies on them. Kroger, Target and Banana Boat are all facing similar lawsuits. 

Alba Botanica sunscreens are sold nationwide, so Anderberg is looking to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who bought the products she says were falsely advertised. 

Anderberg says the amount in controversy exceeds $5 million, and at least 1,000 people have been affected by the alleged false claims. 

She says the company deceives its customers who are relying on its representations when they pay a premium for sunscreens.

“Defendant’s tagline ‘let’s make the future beautiful’ is counter intuitive to Defendant creating, branding, advertising and selling a sunscreen as ‘reef-friendly’ with known chemicals harmful to the marine environments and coral reefs,” she says.

Anderberg is suing under California consumer law, unfair competition laws, and for false advertising and breach of warranty. She’s seeking certification of the class action, damages, disgorgement of profits, fees, costs and a jury trial.  

Sign up for the free Top Class Actions Newsletter to stay on top of developments in the Alba Botanica class action lawsuit and others! 

The plaintiff is represented by Ronald A. Marron, Alexis M. Wood and Kas L. Gallucci of Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron. 

The Alba Botanica Reef Friendly Sunblock Class Action Lawsuit is Anderberg et al., v. The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Case No, 3:21-cv-01794-BAS-NLS, in the U.S District Court Southern District of California. 

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Do You Qualify: Toxins in Skincare Products Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
• Target Virtual Try-On Feature Collects Users Biometric Data Without User Consent, Class Action Alleges
• Kroger Sunscreens Labeled ‘Reef Friendly’ Actually Harm, Kill Reefs, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges
• Automatic Stay of Litigation Should Be Granted to Johnson & Johnson Over Baby Powder Talc Claims, Says Newly-created Debtor