How we scored it
Whole plant tissue (cladodes): cellulose, mucilage polysaccharides, water and minerals, all plant-derived (n=1). 1.00.
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
Dominant feedstock is cultivated prickly pear cladodes, dried and milled or used as a pulp. No synthetic route exists.
In plain English
The stem pads of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica), used as a dried powder or ground material. In products it works as a humectant, helping skin and hair hold water, and as a skin and hair conditioner. The pads contain gel-forming plant sugars (mucilage).
CosIng definition: Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem is the stem of Opuntia ficus-indica, Cactaceae.
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.
- 2OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA STEM. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA STEM. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=OPUNTIA%20FICUS-INDICA%20STEM