Coola sunscreen is compliant with Hawaii’s reef protection law, which bans oxybenzone and octinoxate, but calling it fully “reef safe” depends on how strictly you define that term. Coola’s chemical sunscreen lines contain octocrylene and other chemical filters that some environmental organizations flag as harmful to marine ecosystems, even though these ingredients aren’t banned under current legislation.
What Coola Claims About Reef Safety
Coola markets its sunscreens as compliant with Hawaii Act 104, the state law that took effect January 1, 2021, banning the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. The company states it never uses either of those two chemicals in any of its formulas, whether mineral or chemical. On that basis, every Coola product meets Hawaii’s legal standard for reef compliance.
But Hawaii Act 104 only bans two specific chemicals. “Reef compliant” under that law is a narrower standard than what many consumers mean when they search for “reef safe” sunscreen.
Chemical Filters in Coola Products
Coola sells both mineral sunscreens (using zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) and chemical sunscreens. The mineral options avoid chemical UV filters entirely. The chemical products, however, rely on a mix of synthetic filters that goes beyond what Hawaii’s law addresses.
Coola’s Classic Body Sunscreen SPF 50, for example, contains avobenzone (1.75%), homosalate (5%), octisalate (2%), and octocrylene (5%). The spray version at SPF 30 uses even higher concentrations: octocrylene at 6% and homosalate at 10%. None of these are oxybenzone or octinoxate, so they pass Hawaii’s legal test.
Octocrylene is the ingredient that draws the most concern. Research has linked it to coral damage, and it appears on the HEL List, a registry of chemicals identified as pollutants in freshwater, ocean, and wildlife ecosystems maintained by Haereticus Environmental Laboratory. The HEL List is the standard used for the “Protect Land + Sea” certification, one of the stricter third-party reef safety benchmarks available. Coola’s chemical sunscreens would not qualify under that standard.
Hawaii’s Law vs. Stricter Standards
There’s no single agreed-upon definition of “reef safe.” The term isn’t regulated by the FDA, so brands can use it loosely. In practice, you’re comparing a few different benchmarks:
- Hawaii Act 104: Bans oxybenzone and octinoxate only. All Coola products meet this standard.
- Maui County Ordinance 5306: Goes further by banning the sale and use of all non-mineral sunscreens without a prescription, effective October 2022. Coola’s chemical sunscreens would not be allowed in Maui County under this rule.
- HEL List / Protect Land + Sea certification: Flags a broader set of chemicals including octocrylene, homosalate, and certain microplastics. Coola’s chemical lines contain multiple ingredients on this list.
So the answer changes depending on which standard you’re using. Against the most basic legal requirement, Coola passes. Against stricter environmental benchmarks, its chemical formulas fall short.
Coola’s Mineral Sunscreens Are the Safer Choice
If reef safety is your priority, Coola’s mineral sunscreen line is the better option. Mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which sit on the skin’s surface and physically block UV rays rather than absorbing them through chemical reactions. These ingredients are generally considered the least harmful to coral, and they meet every current reef safety standard, including Maui County’s strict mineral-only requirement.
Coola offers mineral options in both lotion and stick formats. Look for “Mineral” on the label rather than “Classic,” which is the company’s chemical line. If the active ingredients list only zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or both, you’re getting the most reef-conscious formula the brand offers.
The Bigger Picture on Sunscreen and Reefs
Sunscreen chemicals are one source of stress on coral reefs, but not the only one. Ocean warming, agricultural runoff, and coastal development all contribute to coral bleaching and decline. Still, the concentrations of UV filters found near popular beaches and snorkeling sites are high enough to cause measurable damage. One study estimated that roughly 14,000 tons of sunscreen enter coral reef areas annually.
Choosing a mineral sunscreen helps reduce your personal contribution to that load. If you’re snorkeling, swimming near reefs, or visiting marine protected areas, a mineral formula is the most straightforward way to protect both your skin and the water around you. Wearing UV-protective clothing also reduces the amount of sunscreen you need in the first place.