Database/Cleansing/Sodium Coceth Sulfate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Sodium Coceth Sulfate natural?

Mostly. Coco-derived fatty alcohol is natural; the ethylene-oxide chain is petrochemical; the sulfate-sodium head group counts as natural.

INCI nameSodium Coceth Sulfate
FunctionCleansing · Foaming
FeedstockMade from coconut or palm-kernel fatty alcohol reacted…

How we scored it

Est. C13 avg coco-alkyl-O 199 Da (natural) + 2.5 EO 110 Da (petrochemical) + SO3Na 103 Da (natural); (199+103)/412 = 0.73. No formula given; coco chain and mid-range 1-4 EO estimated.
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

Made from coconut or palm-kernel fatty alcohol reacted with 1-4 mol ethylene oxide, then sulfated and neutralised with sodium hydroxide. The fatty chain is oleochemical; the ethoxylate is petrochemical.

In plain English

A gentle cleansing and foaming surfactant used in shampoos and washes. Made from coconut-derived fatty alcohol reacted with a little ethylene oxide, then sulfated and neutralised with sodium.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-(coco-alkyl)oxy-, sodium salts (1-4 mol EO average molar ratio)

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