How we scored it
Algin (sodium alginate) is a seaweed gum; gums are defined as 1.0 by this site's convention.
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
Algin is extracted from brown seaweed by alkaline extraction and purified as its sodium salt. No synthetic feedstock is involved.
In plain English
Sodium alginate, a thickening and binding gum extracted from brown seaweed. It's harvested from algae and processed to purify the gum.
References
- 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.
- 2ALGIN. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3ALGIN. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ALGIN