Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate natural?

Mostly not. Glycerin and coconut fatty acid are natural; the seven ethylene-oxide units linking them are petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
CAS66105-29-1
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockGlycerin is ethoxylated with seven units of petrochemical…

How we scored it

Glycerin (natural) 92 + coco lauric acid (natural) 200 - H2O 18 = 274 natural; 7x ethylene oxide (petrochemical) 308 -> 274/583 = 0.47
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Glycerin is ethoxylated with seven units of petrochemical ethylene oxide, then esterified with coconut fatty acid. Just under half the final mass is petrochemical.

In plain English

An emulsifier that helps oil and water mix in lotions and cleansers. It combines glycerin and coconut fatty acid with a short chain of ethylene oxide, so it's just under half plant-derived.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.''-1,2,3-propanetriyltris-.omega.-hydroxy-, monococonut acid ester (7 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-7%20GLYCERYL%20COCOATE