Database/Film Forming/Polyurethane-11
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Polyurethane-11 natural?

No. Every monomer - two petrochemical diacids, two synthetic diols, a triol, and an aliphatic diisocyanate - derives from petroleum feedstocks.

INCI namePolyurethane-11
FunctionFilm Forming
FeedstockA step-growth polyurethane made entirely from petrochemical diacids,…

How we scored it

All six monomers (adipic acid, 1,4-butanediol, isophthalic acid, methylene bis-(4-cyclohexylisocyanate), neopentyl glycol, trimethylolpropane) are petrochemical; no natural fragment.
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 step-growth polyurethane made entirely from petrochemical diacids, diols, a triol and a hydrogenated-MDI-type diisocyanate. No natural-origin feedstock is used in any known commercial route.

In plain English

A fully synthetic film-forming polymer built from petrochemical building blocks (diacids, diols and an isocyanate). Used in styling and skincare products to leave a flexible film on hair or skin.

CosIng definition: Adipic acid, 1,4-butanediol, isophthalic acid, methylene bis-(4-cyclohexylisocyanate), neopentyl glycol and trimethylolpropane copolymer

Natural alternatives with the same function

Abies Balsamea Resin 100% natural origin

A sticky resin tapped from balsam fir trees, used for its piney scent and to form a thin…

 Acacia Senegal Gum 100% natural origin

The dried gum exuded from the acacia tree, collected by tapping the bark. Used to form a film…

 Albumen 100% natural origin

Egg white. Used in cosmetics to form a film on skin or hair and to help condition them.

 Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract 100% natural origin

A root extract from the konjac plant that helps form a light film on skin and hair and…

 Astragalus Gummifer Gum 100% natural origin

A natural plant gum, known as tragacanth, harvested from a Middle Eastern shrub. Used as a thickener and…

 Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of the liquid left after the yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans is grown on sugars in 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. 2POLYURETHANE-11. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYURETHANE-11. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYURETHANE-11