Is Sorbitan Cocoate natural? NOI 1.00

Q: Is Sorbitan Cocoate natural?

Sorbitan Cocoate has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 1.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Both fragments, sorbitan from plant sorbitol and coconut fatty acids, are natural-origin; esterification loses only condensation water. An NOI of 1.00 means 100% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

How we scored it

Sorbitan (from natural sorbitol) esterified with coco fatty acids (natural oleochemical); ester built only from natural blocks. 1.0.

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.

How it’s made

Acid-catalysed ring closure of sorbitol (intramolecular SN2). Sorbitan is the ring at the core of every sorbitan ester and polysorbate. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the scores for the whole family.

Where it comes from

Made by esterifying sorbitan, derived by dehydrating plant-based sorbitol, with coconut fatty acids. Both feedstocks are oleochemical and plant-derived.

In plain English

An emulsifier that helps oil and water mix in creams. It is made by combining sorbitan, derived from plant sorbitol, with coconut fatty acids.

CosIng definition: Fatty acids, coco, monoesters with sorbitan

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