Database/Viscosity Controlling/Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Glyceryl Polymethacrylate natural?

It depends. Polymer of glyceryl methacrylate. The methacrylate backbone is always petrochemical; the pendant glyceryl group can come from oleochemical glycerol or from epichlorohydrin chemistry, so the score is route-dependent.

INCI nameGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
CAS28474-30-8
FunctionViscosity Controlling
FeedstockMethacrylic acid (petrochemical) esterified with glycerol or, alternatively,…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
glycerol-derived monomerglyceryl methacrylate from oleochemical glycerol (via solketal or direct esterification) and petrochemical methacrylic acid0.57Glyceryl C3H7O3 91.1/160.2 = 0.57 per repeat unit.
glycidyl-methacrylate monomerglyceryl methacrylate by hydrolysis of glycidyl methacrylate (epichlorohydrin-derived) and methacrylic acid0.00Every carbon petrochemical.
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Repeat unit glyceryl methacrylate C7H12O4 160.2 Da: glyceryl fragment C3H7O3 91.1 Da is natural when the monomer is made from oleochemical glycerol (91.1/160.2 = 0.57) and petrochemical when made from glycidyl methacrylate (0.00); the methacryloyl fragment C4H5O 69.1 Da is petrochemical in both routes. Headline shows the glycerol route.
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

Methacrylic acid (petrochemical) esterified with glycerol or, alternatively, glycidyl methacrylate hydrolysed, then polymerised.

In plain English

A thickening polymer built from a synthetic acrylic backbone with glycerin attached to each unit. Helps control the texture and thickness of creams and lotions.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Agar 100% natural origin

A gelling and thickening gum extracted from red seaweed. It is used to give products body and texture,…

 Agarose 100% natural origin

A gelling and thickening ingredient extracted from red seaweed, used to give lotions and gels body.

 Algin 100% natural origin

Sodium alginate, a thickening and binding gum extracted from brown seaweed. It's harvested from algae and processed to…

 Alginic Acid 100% natural origin

A gelling and thickening gum extracted from brown seaweed, the acid form of alginate. It's harvested and purified…

 Aluminum Behenate 100% natural origin

The aluminium salt of behenic acid, a fatty acid from rapeseed or similar seed oils. Used in small…

 Aluminum Distearate 100% natural origin

An aluminium salt of stearic acid, a fatty acid from vegetable oil or animal fat. Used in powders…

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