Each year, millions of tons of plastic enter our oceans. In fact, it’s equivalent to one garbage truck of plastic being dumped into the ocean every minute.
Conventional sunscreens often come in non-recyclable plastic tubes that contribute to this pollution. Moreover, many contain chemicals harmful to marine life. Choosing zero-waste, reef-safe sunscreens helps tackle both problems by reducing plastic waste and avoiding toxic ingredients.
All Good
Website: allgoodproducts.com
Certifications: EWG Verified, Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free, Climate Partner
Location: USA (Washington)
All Good specializes in non-nano mineral sun protection. For example, its Sport Sunscreen SPF 30 relies solely on zinc oxide (16%) as the UV filter. The brand emphasizes simple, organic ingredients and is EWG-verified reef-safe, with no oxybenzone, octinoxate, parabens, phthalates, PEGs, or synthetic fragrances. Packaging is plastic-free (recyclable tin or glass bottle), and the company highlights sustainable sourcing and fair labor. All Good products are cruelty-free (Leaping Bunny certified) and use many organic or fair-trade plant oils.
Badger
Website: badgerbalm.com
Certifications: USDA Organic, Ecocert, Leaping Bunny, B Corp, Climate Neutral
Location: USA (Massachusetts)
Badger’s mineral sunscreens use only non-nano zinc oxide (no chemical filters). For instance, Badger’s SPF 40 Sport Cream lists 22.5% zinc oxide as its only active UV filter. Badger avoids oxybenzone, octinoxate, parabens, and synthetic fragrances.
Its formulas are USDA-certified organic, USDA-NOP or Ecocert-approved, and the brand is Leaping Bunny cruelty-free. Most Badger sun products come in compostable push-up tubes or recyclable metal tins (plastic-free). Badger is a certified B Corp with carbon-neutral production.
Butter Me Up Organics
Website: buttermeuporganics.com
Certifications: Mostly handcrafted/organic
Location: USA (Texas)
This handcrafted, small-batch brand offers reef-safe zinc-oxide sunscreens in zero-waste packaging. Its products use non-nano zinc oxide (no chemical filters) along with organic oils and botanical butters. The formula is free of oxybenzone, octinoxate, parabens, phthalates, PEGs, and synthetic fragrances, aligning with reef-safety guidance.
Butter Me Up sunscreens come in reusable glass jars or cardboard tubes. The company emphasizes organic, ethically sourced ingredients (often USDA Organic) and is cruelty-free. It has no known formal certifications beyond organic claims, but is noted by environmental sources for truly plastic-free, reef-friendly formulation.
Naked Sundays
Website: nakedsundays.com
Certifications: ECOCERT/COSMOS Organic, PETA Approved
Location: Australia (Melbourne)
Naked Sundays makes all-mineral sun-care in compostable packaging. Its Clear Glow Sun Stick (SPF 50) and other products use a non-nano zinc oxide base (with some titanium dioxide in tinted formulas) and contain no oxybenzone, octinoxate, parabens, phthalates, PEGs, or synthetic perfumes. EWG rates Naked Sundays’ sunscreen formulations as low-hazard.
Packaging is entirely plastic-free: the sticks are housed in biodegradable paper tubes and shipped in cardboard. Naked Sundays is cruelty-free and vegan; its ingredients (like argan and coconut oil) are plant-based and ethically sourced. The brand holds ECOCERT (COSMOS) or BDIH organic cosmetic approvals and has been featured in green beauty awards.
Green Goo
Website: greengoo.com
Certifications: USDA Organic (for ingredients), B Corp
Location: USA (California)
Green Goo by Sierra Sage is an organic skincare line with a reef-friendly sunscreen. Its Solar Block blends non-nano zinc oxide (broad-spectrum UV) with natural butters and oils, using no oxybenzone, octinoxate, parabens or synthetic fragrances. Mineral-only formulas align with NOAA’s recommendation that physical (mineral) sunscreens pose less risk to aquatic life. Green Goo’s sunscreen comes in a reusable metal tin (plastic-free). The company emphasizes 100% natural ingredients, many certified organic, and all products are cruelty-free and vegan.
Babo Botanicals
Website: babobotanicals.com
Certifications: USDA Organic, EWG Verified, Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free
Location: USA (Oregon)
Babo Botanicals creates natural baby and kid sunscreens in mostly plastic-free packaging. Its Sheer Zinc SPF 50 lotion is formulated with 20% non-nano zinc oxide (no chemical sunscreens). Babo’s formulas avoid oxybenzone, octinoxate, phthalates, PEGs, and synthetic dyes or fragrance.
Many Babo products are EWG-Verified or rated very low hazard, and the line is certified USDA Organic for the botanical ingredients. Packaging is recyclable or reusable: e.g. the zinc lotion is in an aluminum pump bottle. Babo is Leaping Bunny cruelty-free and many products are non-GMO verified and gluten- and nut-free.
ATTITUDE
Website: attitudeliving.com
Certifications: EWG Verified, Leaping Bunny, Ecologo
Location: Canada (Quebec)
Attitude’s ECO sunscreen sticks (for kids and adults) are packaged in biodegradable cardboard tubes (plastic-free). They contain only non-nano zinc oxide (typically ~20%) and organic plant oils, with no oxybenzone/octinoxate, parabens, phthalates, or artificial scents. This meets Surfrider Foundation’s reef-friendly criteria that sunscreens “only contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as active ingredients”. Attitude sources natural, hypoallergenic ingredients; its products are EWG Verified and Leaping Bunny certified. The brand emphasizes eco-friendly manufacturing (offsetting carbon, using biogas).
Kōkua Sun Care
Website: kokuasuncare.com
Certifications: Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free, Green America (tested green)
Location: USA (Hawaii)
Kokua is a Hawaiian brand that formulates reef-safe mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide (about 25% in SPF 50) and titanium dioxide. Their Hawaiian Natural Zinc Sunscreen (SPF 50) comes in a reusable metal tin (aluminum). Formulation is simple and food-grade: besides mineral UV filters, ingredients are just coconut oil, palm oil, and vitamin E. Kokua products contain no oxybenzone/octinoxate or synthetic additives. The company’s founder is a marine biologist, and Kokua prioritizes sustainable practices (e.g. palm oil from responsible sources).
SurfDurt
Website: surfdurt.com
Certifications: Reef-safe Certified (voluntary), Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free
Location: USA (California)
SurfDurt makes a zinc-oxide sunscreen paste (SPF 50) in metal tins. Its formula is 100% non-nano zinc oxide (no chemical sunscreens) mixed with food-grade ingredients (mineral oil, beeswax, and botanical oils). This aligns with US park guidelines that only mineral blockers (ZnO/TiO₂) be used near reefs. SurfDurt is certified reef-safe and biodegradable; it contains no oxybenzone, octinoxate, parabens or synthetic fragrance. The paste format (tin) produces zero plastic waste.
Little Urchin
Website: littleurchin.com.au
Certifications: COSMOS Organic, Cruelty-Free (PETA), Australian Made
Location: Australia (Brisbane)
Little Urchin is an Australian brand offering mineral sunscreen sticks in plant-derived cardboard tubes. Their Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and SPF 30 sticks use only non-nano zinc oxide (and some titanium dioxide) as UV filters. The formulas are certified organic and contain no harmful chemicals (oxybenzone, octinoxate, parabens, phthalates, PEGs, or artificial fragrance). After use, the cardboard tubes can be recycled or composted.
SunButter
Website: sunbutter.com.au
Certifications: Australian Certified Organic, Cruelty-Free (Leaping Bunny
Location: Australia (Sydney)
SunButter is an Australian reef-safe sunscreen line made with 100% zinc oxide. Its Reef Safe SPF 50 lotion uses non-nano zinc oxide (active) along with organic plant oils and waxes; no chemical UV filters or toxins are included. SunButter products come in a reusable aluminum tin or bottle (glass); no single-use plastics. The brand is vegan, cruelty-free, and all ingredients are certified organic wherever possible. They also won environmental awards in Australia for sustainability.
Stream2Sea
Website: stream2sea.com
Certifications: EcoLogo, PETA Cruelty-Free, Ocean Friendly® Approved
Location: USA (Washington)
Stream2Sea makes reef-friendly sunscreens formulated for minimal environmental impact. Its SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen uses non-nano zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as active filters, with no oxybenzone, octinoxate, or other coral-toxic chemicals. The lotion is biodegradable and free of microplastics, parabens, phthalates, PEGs, and synthetic fragrance.
Their packaging is a recyclable aluminum bottle. Stream2Sea is Leaping Bunny cruelty-free and certified by the Ocean Friendly USA program. Although even mineral sunscreens are still under study, experts note that formulations using only zinc or titanium can be a good choice for coral protection.