Myreth-4 has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.55 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Myristyl (C14) fatty alcohol is oleochemical/natural; the four ethylene oxide units are petrochemical. An NOI of 0.55 means 55% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

Is Myreth-4 natural? NOI 0.55

How we scored it

Myristyl alcohol C14H30O 214.4 Da (natural) + 4×EO 176.2 Da (petrochemical) = 390.6 → 0.55. Given formula/mw (258.44) matches only 1 EO; used name's 4 EO.

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 ethoxylating coconut/palm-derived myristyl alcohol with about 4 moles of ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide is a petrochemical building block.

In plain English

An emulsifier used to blend oil and water in creams and lotions. Made by reacting a coconut/palm-derived fatty alcohol with ethylene oxide, a petroleum-based chemical.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-tetradecyl-.omega.-hydroxy-

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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.
2MYRETH-4. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
3MYRETH-4. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=MYRETH-4