Is PEG-8 Dilaurate natural? NOI 0.50

Q: Is PEG-8 Dilaurate natural?

PEG-8 Dilaurate has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.50 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Lauric acid (coconut/palm kernel) is natural; the 8-unit ethylene oxide backbone is petrochemical, giving an even split. An NOI of 0.50 means 50% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

How we scored it

2×lauroyl(367) natural; PEG-8 backbone(370-2H=368) petrochemical; 367/735=0.50.

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

Diester of lauric acid (from coconut or palm kernel oil) with octaethylene glycol made from petrochemical ethylene oxide.

In plain English

An emulsifier made from lauric acid, a natural fatty acid from coconut or palm kernel oil, combined with a synthetic petrochemical glycol chain in a roughly equal mix.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[(1-oxododecyl)oxy]- (8 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-8 DILAURATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
3PEG-8 DILAURATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-8%20DILAURATE