Database/Viscosity Controlling/Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Itaconate Copolymer
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Itaconate Copolymer natural?

Mostly not. Only the palm alcohol and fermentation-derived itaconic acid fragments are natural; the ethylene oxide chain and the bulk acrylate/methacrylate backbone are petrochemical.

INCI nameAcrylates/Palmeth-25 Itaconate Copolymer
FunctionViscosity Controlling
FeedstockA palm-alcohol/itaconic-acid macromonomer, heavily diluted with petrochemical ethylene…

How we scored it

Estimate: macromonomer (palm C16 alcohol + itaconic acid, natural) is diluted by 25 EO units (petrochemical) and by an unspecified but typically dominant acrylate/methacrylate backbone (fully petrochemical). Ratios not given; rough estimate ~0.08.
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

A palm-alcohol/itaconic-acid macromonomer, heavily diluted with petrochemical ethylene oxide, is copolymerised with predominantly petrochemical acrylate and methacrylate monomers. Exact monomer ratios are not specified by CosIng.

In plain English

A thickening ingredient built mainly from petrochemical acrylic building blocks, with a smaller portion made from palm-derived fatty alcohol and itaconic acid. Used to control the texture and flow of creams and lotions.

CosIng definition: Copolymer formed from the half ester of itaconic acid and ethoxylated palm alcohol with an average of 25 moles of ethylene oxide and one or more monomers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or one of their simple esters

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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. 2ACRYLATES/PALMETH-25 ITACONATE COPOLYMER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3ACRYLATES/PALMETH-25 ITACONATE COPOLYMER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ACRYLATES/PALMETH-25%20ITACONATE%20COPOLYMER