Is Polyurethane-25 natural? NOI 0.00

Q: Is Polyurethane-25 natural?

Polyurethane-25 has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. The polyether polyol, both diisocyanates, trimethylolpropane and the amine neutraliser/chain-extender are all conventional petrochemical monomers. An NOI of 0.00 means 0% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

How we scored it

Polyoxobutylene glycol, DMPA, two aromatic/aliphatic diisocyanates, trimethylolpropane, triethylamine and alkyl diamine — all petrochemical. 0/total=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

Polyurethane-25 is built from a petrochemical polyoxobutylene polyol condensed with two synthetic diisocyanates and trimethylolpropane, then neutralised and chain-extended with synthetic amines. No natural-origin monomer is used.

In plain English

A binding, hair-waving and skin-conditioning polymer built from a petrochemical polyether, aromatic and aliphatic diisocyanates, trimethylolpropane and a synthetic amine chain-extender.

CosIng definition: Polyurethane-25 is a complex polymer formed by the reaction of dihydroxypolyoxobutylene (degree of polymerization 12-30), dimethylol propionic acid, meta-tetramethylenexylenediisocyanate, isophoronediisocyanate and trimethoylpropane. The prepolymer is neutralized with triethylamine and chain extended with C1-8 alkyl diamine

Natural alternatives with the same function

Agar 100% natural origin

A gelling and thickening gum extracted from red seaweed. It is used to give products body and texture,…

Algin 100% natural origin

Sodium alginate, a thickening and binding gum extracted from brown seaweed. It's harvested from algae and processed to…

Alginic Acid 100% natural origin

A gelling and thickening gum extracted from brown seaweed, the acid form of alginate. It's harvested and purified…

Aluminum Zinc Oxide 100% natural origin

A white mineral powder made from zinc and aluminium oxides. It adds opacity, bulk and absorbency to powders…

Amylopectin 100% natural origin

A binding and thickening ingredient that is the highly branched component of plant starch, typically sourced from corn,…

Astragalus Gummifer Gum 100% natural origin

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

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.
2POLYURETHANE-25. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
3POLYURETHANE-25. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYURETHANE-25