How we scored it
Lactic acid (fermentation, natural) + ethanol (fermentation, natural) - H2O; both building blocks natural so ester = 1.0.
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
Made by esterifying fermentation-derived lactic acid with ethanol, both usually corn- or sugar-beet-derived. A petrochemical (ethylene-based) ethanol route also exists as a supplier note.
In plain English
A solvent and fragrance ingredient made by combining lactic acid and ethanol, both typically produced by fermenting plant sugars. Helps dissolve other ingredients and carry scent.
Structure
ethyl 2-hydroxypropanoate
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.
- 2Ethyl Lactate. PubChem CID 7344. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
- 3ETHYL LACTATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 4ETHYL LACTATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYL%20LACTATE