Is Styrene/Acrylamide Copolymer natural? NOI 0.00

Q: Is Styrene/Acrylamide Copolymer natural?

Styrene/Acrylamide Copolymer has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Both styrene and acrylamide are petrochemical monomers derived from benzene and propylene/acrylonitrile feedstocks. An NOI of 0.00 means 0% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

How we scored it

Copolymer of styrene (benzene derivative) and acrylamide (acrylic monomer); both petrochemical regardless of monomer ratio -> 0.0.

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.

Where it comes from

Styrene/Acrylamide Copolymer is synthesised from petrochemical styrene and acrylamide monomers. No natural-feedstock route exists for either monomer in cosmetic use.

In plain English

A synthetic polymer made from two petroleum-derived building blocks, styrene and acrylamide. Used to make products look opaque.

CosIng definition: 2-Propenamide, polymer with ethenylbenzene

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