Banana Boat Sunscreens Contain Chemicals That Harm, Kill Coral Reefs, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges

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Banana Boat Sunscreens Reef Friendly False Ad Class Action Overview: 

• Who: The maker of Banana Boat sunscreens is facing a class action lawsuit filed by an angry California consumer. 
• What: The plaintiff alleges that Banana Boat sunscreens are advertised as friendly to coral reefs, when they allegedly contain chemicals that harm or kill reefs.
• Where: The lawsuit seeks to represent consumers nationwide.

The maker of Banana Boat sunscreens falsely markets the products as being “reef friendly” when they really contain chemicals that can harm or even kill the delicate reefs, a new nationwide class action lawsuit alleges.

Lead plaintiff Michelle Moran filed the class action complaint against Edgewell Personal Care Brands, LLC, Thursday in a California federal court alleging violations of state consumer protection and business laws, breach of warrant, and unjust enrichment. 

“To obtain an unfair competitive advantage in the billion-dollar sunscreen market, Defendant is exposing consumers and the environment, e.g. coral reefs and marine life, to harmful chemical active ingredients in their sunscreens by falsely labeling them as ‘REEF FRIENDLY,’” says the class action lawsuit.

Moran says the company has reaped millions of dollars through this “fraudulent scheme” based on a “calculated business decision to put profits over people and the environment.” 

It has done this through falsely labeling some of its Banana Boat sunscreens as “reef friendly,” tricking customers into thinking the products only contain ingredients that do not cause harm to coral reefs. 

Banana Boat Sunscreens Contain Not So Reef Friendly Substances

“However, contrary to this labeling, the Products actually contain avobenzone, homoslate, and/or octocrylene, which are chemicals that can harm and/or kill coral reefs,” she says. 

Through the deceptive labeling of the products, the company sought to take advantage of consumers’ desire for sunscreens that are safe for coral reefs and marine life and the related ecosystems that depend on them, Moran says.

At the same time, the company has allegedly been reaping the financial benefits of using less desirable, harmful, and less costly chemicals in the products. 

“Defendant has done so at the expense of unwitting consumers, as well as Defendant’s lawfully acting competitors, over whom Defendant maintains an unfair competitive advantage,” she says. 

She’s seeking to represent anyone who purchased Banana Boat products with the “reef friendly” label, plus a California Subclass.

Moran is suing under California unfair competition law and consumer law, as well as for breach of warranty and unjust enrichment.

She’s seeking certification of the class action, an injunction, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

The news comes as Edgewell Personal Care faces another class action lawsuit over its Banana Boat sunscreens, alleging the sunscreens contain benzene, a known human carcinogen. 

What do you think of the allegations that this company profited off false claims that its Banana Boat Sunscreens are “reef friendly”? Let us know in the comments. 

The plaintiffs are represented by Ryan J. Clarkson, Shireen M. Clarkson, Katherine A. Bruce, and Kelsey J. Elling of Clarkson Law Firm, P.C. 

The Banana Boat Sunscreens Reef Friendly False Ad Class Action Lawsuit is Moran et al., v. Edgewell Personal Care, LLC., Case No. 3:21-cv-07669-SK in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California.

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