Australia’s ACCC is taking Edgewell Personal Care, owner of Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic, to court over allegations that the sunscreens were misleadingly marketed as 'reef-friendly'. The regulator claims the environmental benefits advertised lack a sound scientific basis, while Edgewell maintains that it will defend its claims in court.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a false advertising suit over Banana Boat sunscreen, rejecting the dismissal based on FDA guidelines. The case centers on claims that the product failed to adequately disclose the presence of trace benzene, potentially misleading consumers about its safety.

The owner of Banana Boat – part of Edgewell Personal Care – is facing court proceedings initiated by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) over allegations of greenwashing. The company promoted its sunscreens as 'reef friendly' by claiming they lacked harmful chemicals, despite containing other ingredients potentially detrimental to coral reefs and marine life. This is seen as a deceptive marketing strategy that misleads consumers and undermines ethical business practices.