PEG-14M has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Pure polyethylene glycol chain built entirely from petrochemical ethylene oxide monomer, per this site's convention for all PEG chains. An NOI of 0.00 means 0% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

Is PEG-14M natural? NOI 0.00 — Is That Natural?

How we scored it

Homopolymer H-(OCH2CH2)n-OH, n approx 14,000; entirely ethylene-oxide-derived repeat units, terminal H/OH mass negligible at this size -> 0.00.

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

Manufactured by ring-opening polymerisation of petroleum-derived ethylene oxide to very high molecular weight. No natural-feedstock route exists for this polymer.

In plain English

A very long, water-soluble polymer chain built entirely from ethylene oxide, a petroleum-derived building block. Used as a binder and thickener to stabilise creams and lotions.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-hydro-.omega.-hydroxy- (14000 mol EO average molar ratio)

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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.
2PEG-14M. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
3PEG-14M. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-14M