If you are looking for a biodegradable sunscreen because you want your sun cream to be kind to our oceans, read on.
A longstanding partner of the Marine Conservation Society, Green People is a marine-friendly sun cream brand. We have sunscreens for all the family and all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Our natural and organic sunscreens scored an ethical score of 100/100 with The Good Shopping Guide and we are confident they will tick all your boxes!
In this guide we introduce you to our bestsellers and show you what to look for when shopping for a ocean-friendly sunscreen.
Are Green People sunscreens biodegradable?
At Green People, we are incredibly concerned for the safety of our seas and oceans. We work closely with the Marine Conservation Society and refuse to use any ingredients known to harm marine life in our sun care formulations.
Our 100% mineral sunscreens use mineral-based sun filters (non-nano Zinc Oxide and non-nano Titanium Dioxide). These are 100% biodegradable.
Some of our sun creams use a blend of mineral and chemical UV filters DHHB (Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate) and DBT (Diethylamino butamido triazone). Considered eco-friendly examples of chemical sun cream filters, these highly photostable actives offer long-lasting protection, but do not degrade as easily as mineral filters. However, they are also known to be the best choice of chemical filters as they are the least harmful to coral reefs and are a lot less persistent in the environment than Oxybenzone and Octocrylene (more about them later!).
Green People Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30: The diver’s choice
Green People is proud to offer marine-friendly sun creams and refuses to use any ingredients known to harm marine life.
It's one of the many reasons our natural and organic sun care collection is the top-rated brand in The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Comparisons Rating Table[i]
Our best-selling sunscreen, Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30, is a beach essential. It has been clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin and can be used on your face and body.
The best sunscreen choice for scuba divers, snorkelers, surfers and swimmers, its mineral sun filter is its only non-biodegradable ingredient.
Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30 200ml
Protect sensitive skin naturally with our best-selling SPF30 sun cream
€36,95
“Great sun cream and the only one that doesn’t bring me out in prickly heat. As a scuba diver, I also love the fact that it is ocean-friendly.” Susannah H
“It's coral friendly and prevents sunburn - which is all that matters if you're going diving/snorkelling on a reef. It is also a nice product, which I have bought several times and have recommended to several other divers.” George B
Here’s a summary of why our sunscreens are considered sea-safe
- Natural and organic
- Packed with plant actives
- No Oxybenzone, Octinoxate or Octocrylene
- Sales support The Marine Conservation Society charity
Discover more of our sunscreens
View the entire sun care range.
Why buy marine-safe sun creams?
Worryingly, the world’s supply of coral is in decline, and concerns have been raised that, in addition to climate change and overfishing, some sun cream ingredients (namely Oxybenzone) are bleaching coral and causing it to die.
In response, sales of Oxybenzone sun cream have been in several reef territories, including Hawaii and parts of the Caribbean.
Whilst safe for humans, if coral reefs encounter Oxybenzone, they can become vulnerable to disease and death, leaving fish and other marine life without a valuable source of food and shelter.
What to consider when shopping for ocean-friendly sun cream
Does it contain Oxybenzone?
Oxybenzone is considered such a threat to coral populations that its use is banned in several countries.
But you don’t have to worry about that with Green People. All our sun creams are ocean-friendly and free from Oxybenzone, Octinoxate and Octocrylene (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate).
Check The Good Shopping Guide
Check The Good Shopping Guides' ethical comparison charts to feel reassured that you’ve made the right choice for your skin and the sea.
Green People is proud that our sun care products score 100/100 on their ethical comparison table.
Check with your tour guide
Packing for that Caribbean cruise of a lifetime? Check whether you are docking at any territories where Oxybenzone sunscreen is banned, and read your boarding documents carefully to see if your cruise line restricts taking certain sun cream ingredients on board.
Choose the best factor SPF for your destination
If you are heading to a warm climate, choose a sunscreen with a high SPF (minimum SPF30) and apply it every 2-3 hours as well as after swimming.
Choose the best SPF for your activity
Looking for a reef-safe sunscreen for your next snorkelling trip? Make sure your SPF is water-repellent.
Our sea-friendly sun care collection provides natural water-repellent protection via a skin-kind blend of plant oils which repel water without preventing your skin from breathing.
Do you have any questions about biodegradable sunscreens or need help choosing a reef-safe sunscreen? Our friendly UK customer care team a call at 01403 740350 is happy to help – or you can find your skin’s perfect match with our sunscreen finder tool.
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has over 30 years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 and 2024 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
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