The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. makes Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreens, which it advertises as being “Reef Friendly.” But the complaint for this class action alleges that the sunscreens in fact contain octocrylene and avobenzone, chemicals that are harmful to reefs and to marine life.
The Nationwide Class for this action is all persons in the US who, within the applicable statute of limitations period, bought any of the products at issue for person or household use and not for resale. A California Subclass has also been defined for persons in the above class in California.
The products at issue include the following:
- Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Coconut Clear Spray 50
- Alba Botanica Cool Sport Sunscreen Refreshing Clear Spray 50
- Alba Botanica Kids Sunscreen Tropical Fruit Clear Spray 50
- Alba Botanica Sensitive Sunscreen Fragrance Free Clear Spray 50
- Alba Botanica Maximum Sunscreen Fragrance Free Clear Spray 70
- Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Aloe Vera 30 (cream version)
- Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Green Tea (cream version)
- Alba Botanica Soothing Sunscreen Pure Lavender 45 (cream version)
- Alba Botanica Kids Sunscreen Tropical Fruit 45 (cream version)
- Alba Botanica Sport Sunscreen Fragrance Free 45 (cream version)
- Alba Botanica Sweet Pea Sheer Shield Sunscreen 45 (cream version)
- Alba Botanica Sensitive Sheer Shield Sunscreen 45 (cream version)
- Alba Botanica Facial Sheer Shield Sunscreen 45 (cream version)
- Alba Botanica Fast Fix Sun Stick 30
Consumers nowadays have an interest in buying products that are not harmful to the environment. The advertising of the products as being “Reef Friendly” and “Cruelty Free” seeks to attract customers who want to be ecologically conscious and who are willing to pay more for products that are benign. The complaint calls the “Reef Friendly” representations false advertising, deceiving, and misleading.
Hawaii has banned avobenzone and octocrylene from sunscreens, which the complaint alleges are “toxic to human health, coral reefs and marine species.” Octocrylene has also been banned from sunscreen products that are sold in the US Virgin Islands, Key West, Florida, and the Marshall Islands.
What’s wrong with these chemicals? The complaint alleges, “Research demonstrates the octocrylene can disrupt human hormones and have toxic impacts on a variety of aquatic organisms, including corals, fish and marine animals. Avobenzone is also an endocrine disruptor and can reduce coral resilience against the high ocean temperatures that are killing corals worldwide.”
Other features of the products add to the deception. The complaint claims, “The Products are marketed to consumers with labeling that shows leaves of trees and the term Hawaiian is further deceiving when the chemical sunscreens are actually banned on the Hawai’i beaches.”
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Alba Botanica “Reef Friendly” Sunscreen Products Complaint
October 20, 2021
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. makes Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreens, which it advertises as being “Reef Friendly.” But the complaint for this class action alleges that the sunscreens in fact contain octocrylene and avobenzone, chemicals that are harmful to reefs and to marine life.
Alba Botanica “Reef Friendly” Sunscreen Products ComplaintCase Event History
Alba Botanica “Reef Friendly” Sunscreen Products Complaint
October 20, 2021
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. makes Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreens, which it advertises as being “Reef Friendly.” But the complaint for this class action alleges that the sunscreens in fact contain octocrylene and avobenzone, chemicals that are harmful to reefs and to marine life.
Alba Botanica “Reef Friendly” Sunscreen Products Complaint