Make the Sunscreen Switch This Summer
Aerosol or lotion? You might want to think twice about which sunscreen you reach for this summer.
As Earth Day 2023 approached this spring, WasteLessWednesday held a blog-writing contest among public relations students at the University of Texas at Austin. The winner is Sofia Marichal, our first guest blogger. We love Sofia’s timely topic about sunscreen waste, just as we’re heading into summer. While aluminum spray sunscreen cans are widely recyclable, they can waste a lot of product. Sofia has decided to waste less sunscreen by choosing lotions, which are generally packaged in plastic bottles and tubes. That means lotion containers are less recyclable, but they waste less sunscreen and may provide better protection from the sun. Sofia’s blog is a great Earth Day reminder that every thing has an environmental footprint, so until manufacturers change the way products are made and packaged, it’s up to us to chose what’s less bad and more recyclable locally.
By Sofia Marichal
When you buy sunscreen, I’d say there's a decent chance you’re reaching for an aerosol spray sunscreen. Heck, I mean I do it too, it just feels easier and even … cooler somehow? What you might not be considering though, is how much of it is going to waste.
I feel like most times I’m spraying sunscreen on myself, the majority of it goes straight into the wind, on my towel, or into the eyes of the person sitting next to me. (Seriously, I somehow get it in my mother’s eyes every time we’re at the beach together.) Anyway, my point is that most of the time my sunscreen is not ending up where it’s supposed to be.
Even after all of this trouble, spray sunscreen is still what I reach for and constantly rebuy. And I’m not rebuying it so often because I love it so much and use it every single day. I’m rebuying it because half the bottle doesn’t even end up on my skin, and I swear after one pool day, I’m out.
Now I know what you’re thinking: the alternative of lathering yourself in a lotion doesn’t exactly sound enjoyable, or convenient. But at this point you’re putting your sunscreen and money to waste and it doesn’t stop there. I’m guessing that once you’re done with your aerosol spray sunscreen you just toss it in the recycling right? I know I do. I mean the can is likely made of aluminum, which is a highly recyclable material. But first, you have to make sure the can is completely empty, like EMPTY empty. For lotion sunscreen bottles, you can just clean them by taking off the lid and rinsing them out to be empty.
So basically, aerosol spray sunscreens are recyclable if you follow the right steps, which I know I hadn’t been doing and I’m guessing you weren’t either.
Here’s why I will be using a sunscreen lotion instead this summer:
They’re cheaper than aerosol spray sunscreens. Not only will you stop throwing your money straight into the wind by no longer buying spray sunscreens, but the alternative is also saving you money.
Lotions usually provide better sun protection and you know how much sunscreen you’re really putting on. Who knows how much actually gets on your skin when you spray?
There’s a much higher chance of your skin better absorbing the product when you rub it into your skin.
Lotions don’t have some harmful chemicals like benzene found in aerosol spray sunscreens.
A Parting Thought: Don’t Be a (Sea) Monster
Now let’s say you couldn’t care less that you could be wasting money and are not taking the easily-forgettable steps for proper recycling. I just hope you’re not a heartless monster and assume you at least care about the coral reefs and marine life. Most aerosol spray sunscreens contain harmful chemicals and particles that can damage reefs and hurt marine life. Even if you don’t get in the water, these particles stick to the sand and when the tide comes in, the chemicals go out to sea. So next time you’re buying sunscreen just opt for the lotion and make sure it’s reef safe (check the bottle). You’ll be doing better for yourself and the ocean.