The Business of Saving the Reef

It was the squirt and slather heard ‘round the world — Senate Bill 2571, passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by Gov. David Ige, will by Jan. 1, 2021, ban the sale or distribution in the state of any sunscreen that contains the chemicals oxybenzone or octinoxate without a prescription. The goal of the groundbreaking legislation is to preserve coral and ecosystems that marine scientists say are damaged by those sunscreens and the bill has drawn international attention.

The sunscreen law “couldn’t be more relevant for our state and the rest of the world,” says Monica Salter, VP of corporate communications at the Outrigger Enterprises Group. The company started promoting the use of reef-friendly sunscreen through its OZONE initiative in 2014, which focuses on increasing coral health and resiliency in the waters surrounding the company’s beach destinations, through coral planting, educational opportunities and beach cleanups.

Read more here in Hawaii Business magazine.