Is Sodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer natural? NOI 0.12

Q: Is Sodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer natural?

Sodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.12 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Styrene and the acrylate backbone are petrochemical; only the sodium neutralising the acid groups counts as natural mineral mass. An NOI of 0.12 means 12% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

How we scored it

Assuming a typical 1:1 styrene (104 Da, petrochemical) : sodium acrylate (94 Da) repeat unit; within sodium acrylate, Na (23 Da) is natural mineral mass; 23/198=0.12 overall; exact 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

A styrene-acrylic latex copolymer partly neutralised with sodium hydroxide; styrene and acrylic/methacrylic monomers are petrochemical, only the sodium is mineral-derived. Exact commercial monomer ratio is proprietary.

In plain English

A synthetic film-forming latex used in mascara and nail products, made mostly from petroleum-based building blocks with a small amount of mineral sodium.

CosIng definition: Sodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer is the sodium salt of a polymer of styrene and a monomer consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or one of their simple esters.

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