Little Hands Hawaii
brand rating & evaluation
overall rating:
Top Choice
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (Avoid) to 5 (Top Choice). See How We Rate
The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. Below are a few factors influencing this brand's score:
certifications:
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overview
sustainability
non-toxic
social responsibility
7 out of 10
10 out of 10
8 out of 10
about
Little Hands Hawaii offers gentle, mineral-based sunscreen and sun care for everyday use.
highlights
Plastic-free packaging
Sustainable ingredient sourcing
Reef-safe SPF
Cruelty-free
Toxin-free
sustainability
score:
7 out of 10
details:
Packaging
The entire sunscreen line is plastic-free, opting for recyclable or compostable containers instead of plastic tubes. For example, their mineral sunscreen comes in recyclable metal tins with biodegradable labels printed in soy-based inks. Their stick sunscreens use compostable, push-up paper tubes rather than plastic sticks. Little Hands Hawaii also sources packaging responsibly (e.g. using recycled paper for labels) and avoids toxic adhesives or coatings. The packaging is designed for circularity, as tins are reusable and all components (including inks and labels) are non-toxic and biodegradable.
Ingedient Sustainability
The only active ingredient in all products is non-nano zinc oxide, a reef-safe, naturally occurring mineral UV filter. All other ingredients are plant-derived oils, waxes, and butters (renewable resources that biodegrade readily in the environment). These ingredients are largely certified organic.
Little Hands Hawaii deliberately avoids petrochemical or fossil-derived inputs, there are no silicones, no petroleum jelly, and no synthetic polymers in their formulations. Instead, even the texturizers are natural: they use beeswax (from local apiaries in Hawaiʻi) and plant-based sunflower wax to solidify sticks. No ingredient in their sunscreens is known to drive problematic monoculture or deforestation.
Energy Use and Footprint
Little Hands Hawaii demonstrates some strengths in localization and efficiency, but there is limited public data on its energy use or carbon footprint initiatives. The company is family-run and produces in small batches, likely using minimal energy compared to large industrial sunscreen factories. Additionally, the formulas are simple and cold-blended (mixing oils and minerals) without energy-intensive chemical processes. This suggests a relatively low manufacturing energy demand.
Waste Management
Operational waste is kept low by manufacturing in small, made-to-order batches – this reduces overproduction and unused inventory. The simplicity of their formulas (oil-and-wax based sunscreens with no water) means they don’t produce hazardous wastewater or require complex chemical disposal.
At end-of-life, the products are benign: any leftover sunscreen is biodegradable (made of natural oils and minerals) and reef-safe, so it won’t introduce persistent pollutants. Packaging waste from Little Hands Hawaii products is minimal and non-toxic to dispose of.
Additionally, the brand’s involvement in community cleanups indicates they care about reducing environmental waste beyond their own operations.
Business Model
Little Hands Hawaii’s business model promotes mindful consumption and community well-being rather than overconsumption. Their product line is small and curated: primarily sunscreens in various formats and a few related skin care items.
non-toxic
score:
10 out of 10
details:
Little Hands Hawaii’s products have an outstanding safety profile, free from the harmful chemicals commonly found in conventional sunscreens. All ingredients are natural and non-toxic, and the formulas are gentle enough for babies and sensitive skin.
Their sunscreens contain no oxybenzone, octinoxate, or other chemical UV filters that are known endocrine disruptors and reef toxins (they use zinc oxide as the sole active). They also use no parabens, phthalates, or synthetic preservatives; by formulating without water, they eliminate the need for any preservatives that could be irritating or unsafe.
There is no “fragrance” or synthetic perfume in any product. The only scent comes from a touch of organic frankincense essential oil in the original formula, and even that is omitted entirely in their Baby sunscreen (which has zero essential oils).
social responsibility
score:
8 out of 10
details:
Little Hands Hawaii is a small, family-owned business that emphasizes ethical labor practices, especially within their local community. All of their products are handmade in Hawaiʻi by locals. In terms of supply chain labor, Little Hands Hawaii makes some effort to source ingredients ethically. For example, their beeswax is sourced from a local rescue bee farmer in Hawaiʻi. To strengthen labor practices further, they could provide more transparency on overseas sourcing.
Little Hands Hawaii shows a considerate stance toward animal welfare, though it does use one animal-derived ingredient (beeswax) in its products. On the positive side, the brand is unequivocally cruelty-free: their sunscreen and skincare products are not tested on animals at any stage. Customers and ethical blogs refer to Little Hands Hawaii as a “100% chemical and cruelty-free” sunscreen brand.
Little Hands Hawaii donates a portion of every sale to beach cleanups and coral reef education initiatives. This means that each customer purchase directly supports nonprofit efforts to preserve Hawaii’s marine ecosystems. The company has been involved in or donated to organizations that organize reef-friendly campaigns, aligning with events like World Reef Day and local reef preservation projects.
