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Which sunscreen brand should we actually be buying for our crew? And which brands does WorkCore Australia actually stock?

Safe Work Australia advises that solar ultraviolet radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer in Australia, that it can sit at hazardous levels year-round rather than only in summer, and that a PCBU must manage the risks of sun-related disease and injury at work. For procurement teams, that duty makes sunscreen a consumable line item to be specified, budgeted and restocked. WorkCore stocks three Australian mineral ranges, and they are not interchangeable. EcoZinc is the certified worksite range, Reef Safe Australia covers in-water and marine work, and ThermaSun handles high-volume everyday cover. Each was built for a different job. This article sets out which range suits which buyer, and which formats to order.


  1. EcoZinc Mineral SPF50 — the certified worksite range

The Australian Sunscreen Council notes that Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, and that outdoor workers in construction, transport and logistics face extreme and prolonged UV exposure, making reliable sun protection a public health priority. EcoZinc is built for that brief. It is Australian made in Rocklea, Brisbane, formulated with non-nano zinc oxide, and chemical UV filter free. Certification is documented rather than implied: ISO 9001 systems certification, NSF/ANSI 305 organic ingredients, vegan certified and dermatologist tested. That evidence trail is what union and council buyers ask for a tender. EcoZinc is also partnered with Danger Sun Overhead.

Best for: construction and civil contractors, council field crews, mining and resources sites, union member supply programs, landscaping and grounds teams


Formats: Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 100g, 1kg and 2kg; Tinted SPF50 100g; Mozzie Barrier Tinted SPF50 100g and 1kg pump; 12-pack SPF50 sachet bundles; 3-pack value bundles


  1. EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC SPF50+ — for arc and lamp exposure

ARPANSA advises that workplaces can present ultraviolet radiation from artificial sources including welding, germicidal lamps and high intensity lighting, and that protective measures are needed to minimise the health risk. Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ Tinted is the EcoZinc product formulated for those environments, and it is the only product across the WorkCore range carrying UVC language. Supplied in a 1kg pump, it suits fabrication shops, boilermaking bays and maintenance workshops where exposure is close-range and repeated. Order it alongside the standard EcoZinc range, not instead of it. The welding crew still works outdoors, and the general range covers the solar side of the shift.

Best for: welding and fabrication shops, boilermakers and metal trades, shipyard and marine fabrication, mining and resources maintenance teams, RTOs and trade training facilities


Formats: Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ Tinted 1kg pump


  1. Reef Safe Australia — for in-water and marine work

NOAA reports that coral ecosystems face serious threats from a range of sources, and that scientists have found some chemicals used in sunscreen and other personal care products threaten the health of coral reefs, with the mechanisms still an active area of research. Operators on and in the water are increasingly asked by clients and land managers what they issue to staff and sell to guests. Reef Safe Australia is the range WorkCore stocks for those settings, covering surf and snorkel use, face application, and bulk face formats. The face line is built on non-nano zinc oxide at 25% w/w and is chemical UV filter free. Label directions call for reapplication every two hours, and more often after swimming, sweating or towelling. Build that rate into your order volume.

Best for: reef charter and marine tourism operators, dive and snorkel businesses, surf lifesaving clubs and swim schools, coastal resorts and holiday parks, marine research and ranger teams


Formats: Zinc Mineral Surf & Snorkel Sunscreen SPF50+ 100g; Zinc Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF50 100g; Zinc Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF50 bulk 1kg and 2kg; Zinc Mineral Mosquito Barrier Sunscreen SPF50 100g


  1. ThermaSun — for high-volume everyday cover

Safe Work Australia notes that exposure worsens where UV reflects off certain surfaces and materials, the daily reality on concrete pads, steel decks and yard hardstand. Eliminating exposure is the first control, but large sites still need product in every hand. ThermaSun is the volume answer for toolbox issue, inductions and event giveaways. It is Australian made in Brisbane, priced from $4.99 RRP, and batch SPF tested on every production run, so a manager buying at pallet scale gets a documented result per batch. It is formulated with non-nano zinc oxide and is chemical UV filter free.

Best for: large-headcount sites, toolbox and staff amenity issue, induction and event giveaways, caravan parks and campgrounds, general and rural retail buyers


Formats: Face & Body Zinc SPF50 100g and 1kg pump; Face & Body Tinted Zinc SPF50 100g; Work-Shield Pro Zinc SPF50+ 100g and 1kg pump; Natural Mozzie Barrier Tinted Zinc SPF50 100g; 5-pack and 7-pack bundles


  1. ThermaSun For Kids & Family — for childcare, camps and community programs

Queensland Health advises that sun protection is required when the UV Index is 3 or above, that the UV Index in Queensland is 3 or above all year-round including winter, and that shade is required year-round for children's play areas. Services supplying children rather than workers buy differently. They need smaller formats, frequent reapplication, and product educators and parents recognise. The ThermaSun for Kids & Family collection covers that requirement. Kids Zinc SPF50 is the core line, with Gentle Apricot Zinc SPF30 where a lower SPF is specified. Multi-packs suit centres issuing one tube per room rather than running a shared dispenser.

Best for: childcare centres and outside school hours care, primary and secondary schools, school camps and outdoor education, sports clubs and community programs, family and kids retail buyers


Formats: Kids Zinc SPF50 100g; Gentle Apricot Zinc SPF30 100g; 5-pack and 7-pack bundles


  1. Bulk pumps, sachets and UV safety stations — matching format to the site

The Bureau of Meteorology notes that many parts of Australia need sun protection all year round, and that of the capital cities only Hobart and Melbourne average a maximum UV Index below 3 through winter. Year-round demand changes how you order. As a rule: 100g tubes travel with the worker and suit vehicle-based and roaming crews; 1kg and 2kg pumps stay at a fixed amenity, crib room or gate station and deliver the lowest cost per application; sachet bundles suit inductions, visitors and subcontractors where product leaves with the person. Count reapplications per shift, not headcount, when sizing an order.

Best for: procurement and WHS teams sizing a first order, multi-site facilities managers, councils with a depot and field split, labour hire and subcontractor inductions, event and visitor management


Formats: 100g tubes across all three brands; EcoZinc 1kg and 2kg pumps; ThermaSun 1kg pumps; Reef Safe Australia bulk face 1kg and 2kg; EcoZinc 12-pack sachet bundles; 3-pack, 5-pack and 7-pack bundles


Wholesale pricing at WorkCore is visible once your B2B account is registered and approved. Register at workcoreaustralia.com.au to unlock trade pricing across all three ranges, then contact the WorkCore team for volume quotes, pallet pricing, standing orders and account setup. If you are not certain which range fits your workforce, send through your crew size, site type and reapplication pattern, and we will match the format.


SOURCES

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) — Occupational exposure: Workers exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun and artificial sources https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/sources-radiation/occupational-exposure/occupational-exposure-workers

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service — Sunscreen Chemicals and Coral Reefs https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html

Australian Sunscreen Council — Sunscreen Safety Issues Australia https://www.australiansunscreencouncil.org/issues-sunscreen-safety-australia


Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Sunscreens are only one part of sun protection. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and reapply frequently for effective sun protection. Visit workcoreaustralia.com.au for supporting information.


Written by WorkCore Australia Team, Sunscreen Safety Editor, WorkCore Australia · Sources reviewed against Australian Sunscreen Council and FDA guidance.


Published: 2026 · WorkCore Australia

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