Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-80 Glyceryl Cocoate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-80 Glyceryl Cocoate natural?

Mostly not. Glycerin and coconut fatty acid are both natural; the eighty ethylene-oxide units bridging and extending the ester are petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-80 Glyceryl Cocoate
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockGlycerin and coconut-derived lauric-type fatty acid are natural…

How we scored it

Glycerin(92)+coconut/lauric acid(183, natural)=275 Da; +80 EO x44.05=3524 Da petrochemical minus 1 Da ester H; total 3798 Da. 275/3798=0.07.
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

Glycerin and coconut-derived lauric-type fatty acid are natural oleochemical feedstocks, esterified and then heavily reacted with petrochemical ethylene oxide. No significant alternative route exists.

In plain English

An emulsifying cleanser made from glycerin and coconut fatty acid, both plant-derived, reacted with a large amount of petroleum-based ethylene oxide.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.''-1,2,3-propanetriyltris-.omega.-hydroxy-, monococonut acid ester (80 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

 Arachidyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A gentle, sugar-based emulsifier used in creams and lotions to stabilize formulas without harsh surfactants. It's made from…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

A long-chain fatty acid from vegetable oil, used to thicken and stabilise creams and conditioners. It is extracted…

 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing and emulsifying surfactant made by combining plant-derived fatty alcohols (coconut/palm) with glucose from starch.…

 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing ingredient made from coconut or palm fatty alcohols and glucose; helps cleanse skin and…

 C18-36 Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of long-chain plant fatty acids used as a mild cleanser and thickener, giving body and a…

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-80 GLYCERYL COCOATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-80 GLYCERYL COCOATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-80%20GLYCERYL%20COCOATE