PEG-20M 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, 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-20M natural? NOI 0.00 — Is That Natural?

How we scored it

Homopolymer H-(OCH2CH2)n-OH, n approx 20,000; entirely ethylene-oxide-derived, terminal groups mass-negligible -> 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 made entirely from ethylene oxide, a petroleum-derived building block. Used to bind ingredients together and stabilise the texture of emulsions.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-hydro-.omega.-hydroxy- (20,000 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-20M. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
3PEG-20M. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-20M