Is Potassium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer natural? NOI 0.26

Q: Is Potassium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer natural?

Potassium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.26 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. The potassium counter-ion is mineral and the C10-30 alkyl esters come from fatty alcohols, while the acrylic and methacrylic units and the crosslinker are petrochemical. An NOI of 0.26 means 26% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

How we scored it

No grade data, so half the acrylic units are taken as neutralised: 49 mol% acrylic acid C3H4O2 72.1 + 49 mol% K acrylate C3H3KO2 110.2 (K 39.1 natural) + 2 mol% C20 alkyl acrylate 352.6 (C20H41O 297.5 natural): (49 x 39.1 + 2 x 297.5) / (49 x 72.1 + 49 x 110.2 + 2 x 352.6) = 0.26.

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

Acrylic acid is copolymerised with a small proportion of C10-30 alkyl acrylate and a polyalkenyl crosslinker, then neutralised with potassium hydroxide. The composition and degree of neutralisation are assumed, so the value is indicative.

In plain English

A synthetic acrylic polymer, neutralised with potassium, that thickens and stabilises water-based formulas and forms a film on skin. A small fatty-alcohol-based part helps it hold oil and water together.

CosIng definition: Potassium salt of acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer

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

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.
2POTASSIUM ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
3POTASSIUM ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POTASSIUM%20ACRYLATES/C10-30%20ALKYL%20ACRYLATE%20CROSSPOLYMER