PEG-180M has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. The molecule is a pure polyethylene glycol chain built entirely from petrochemical ethylene oxide, with no natural-origin fragment anywhere in the structure. An NOI of 0.00 means 0% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

Is PEG-180M natural? NOI 0.00

How we scored it

Homopolymer -(CH2CH2O)n-, n approx 180,000 per CosIng average EO ratio; entire chain is ethylene-oxide derived, no natural fragment. 0/total = 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 polymerising ethylene oxide, cracked from petroleum or natural gas feedstock, to very high molecular weight. There is no commercial natural-origin route to polyethylene glycol.

In plain English

PEG-180M is a very large synthetic polymer made entirely from ethylene oxide, a petroleum-derived building block. It's used in tiny amounts to thicken formulas and stabilise emulsions in lotions and creams.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-hydro-.omega.-hydroxy- (180,000 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-180M. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
3PEG-180M. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-180M