Is Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate natural? NOI 0.50

Q: Is Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate natural?

Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.50 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. The polystyrene backbone is petrochemical; the sulfonate and sodium groups are mineral-derived, giving an almost exact half-mass split. An NOI of 0.50 means 50% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

How we scored it

Repeat unit C8H7-SO3Na: styrenic backbone 103 Da (petro) + SO3Na 103 Da (natural, mineral); 103/206=0.4998, computed not hedged.

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 by sulfonating polystyrene, itself from petrochemical styrene, then neutralising with sodium hydroxide. No natural-origin route exists for the polymer backbone.

In plain English

A synthetic polymer made from petroleum-derived styrene, then treated to add sulfonate and sodium groups. Used to stabilize emulsions and control thickness.

CosIng definition: Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate is the polymer that conforms generally to the formula

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