Database/Antistatic/PVP/VA/Itaconic Acid Copolymer
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PVP/VA/Itaconic Acid Copolymer natural?

Mostly not. Itaconic acid is fermentation-derived and natural, but it is a minor comonomer; the bulk of the polymer is petrochemical vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate.

INCI namePVP/VA/Itaconic Acid Copolymer
CAS68928-72-3
FunctionAntistatic · Binding
FeedstockThe itaconic acid comonomer is made by fermenting…

How we scored it

Assuming a typical ~10% itaconic acid (130 Da, fermentation-derived) with ~90% vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate (petrochemical): 0.10x1.0=0.10 overall; exact monomer ratio not disclosed.
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

The itaconic acid comonomer is made by fermenting glucose with Aspergillus terreus, a well-established bio-based route; the majority vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate components are petrochemical. Exact commercial monomer ratio is proprietary.

In plain English

A film-forming polymer used in hairspray, made mostly from petroleum-based building blocks with a small amount of a fermentation-derived acid mixed in.

CosIng definition: Butanedioic acid, methylene-, polymer with ethenyl acetate and 1-ethenyl-2-pyrrolidinone

Natural alternatives with the same function

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. 2PVP/VA/ITACONIC ACID COPOLYMER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PVP/VA/ITACONIC ACID COPOLYMER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PVP/VA/ITACONIC%20ACID%20COPOLYMER