100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Papain natural?

Q: Is Papain natural?

Papain has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 1.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Papain is a protein enzyme extracted directly from unripe papaya fruit latex, with no petrochemical component. An NOI of 1.00 means 100% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

Yes. Papain is a protein enzyme extracted directly from unripe papaya fruit latex, with no petrochemical component.

INCI namePapain

CAS9001-73-4

FunctionAntistatic · Hair Conditioning

FeedstockExtracted from the latex of unripe papaya (Carica…

How we scored it

Proteolytic enzyme isolated from papaya latex; entirely natural protein. 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

Extracted from the latex of unripe papaya (Carica papaya) fruit by tapping and drying. Used as-is without chemical modification.

In plain English

An enzyme from papaya used to gently exfoliate by breaking down dead skin cells. Common in exfoliating masks and cleansers.

CosIng definition: Papain

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