Is Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer natural? NOI 0.00

Q: Is Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer natural?

Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Styrene, acrylates and methacrylate are all petrochemical monomers with no natural-origin fragment in the polymer backbone. 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, acrylate esters and ammonium methacrylate; all three monomers are petrochemical -> 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

Manufactured by free-radical copolymerisation of petrochemical styrene, acrylate ester and methacrylic acid/ammonia-derived monomers. No natural-origin route exists for this synthetic film-forming polymer.

In plain English

A synthetic polymer used to form a thin film on skin, hair or nails. Common in styling products, mascaras and long-wear formulas to add hold and opacity.

CosIng definition: Styrene/Acrylate/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer

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