Database/Binding/PEG-45
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-45 natural?

No. PEG chains are built entirely from petrochemical ethylene oxide; no natural fragment is present in the polymer.

INCI namePEG-45
CAS25322-68-3
FunctionBinding · Humectant
FeedstockA polyethylene glycol made by polymerising petrochemical ethylene…

How we scored it

Pure polyethylene glycol homopolymer, entirely from petrochemical ethylene oxide. 0/total = 0.0.
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

A polyethylene glycol made by polymerising petrochemical ethylene oxide onto water (45 units average). No natural-origin commercial route exists.

In plain English

A synthetic polyethylene glycol used as a humectant, binder and solvent to help other ingredients dissolve and keep formulas moist.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-hydro-.omega.-hydroxy- (45 mol EO average molar ratio)

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References

  1. 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.
  2. 2PEG-45. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-45. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-45