ISO/TR 23750:2021 is a technical report that provides practical, question‑and‑answer guidance for applying the ISO 16128 series when characterizing cosmetic ingredients and products. It clarifies how to calculate natural origin indexes, organic indexes and contents for cosmetics, explains how to treat process and ingredient solvents, and gives detailed examples for extracts, fermentation products and other ingredient classes. The report is aimed at helping ingredient suppliers and cosmetic companies reach consistent, transparent classification under ISO 16128‑1 and ISO 16128‑2.
Key topics and technical points
- Connection to ISO 16128: Interprets and explains the criteria in ISO 16128‑1 and ISO 16128‑2 for classifying ingredients as natural, derived‑natural or non‑natural.
- Indexes and contents: Practical guidance on calculating the natural origin index and organic index, and when an ingredient is reported as an index versus a content.
- Process vs ingredient solvents: Clarifies the distinction between solvents that remain in the ingredient (ingredient solvents appear on INCI) and process solvents (should not remain except as traces) and how each affects classification.
- Physical processes vs chemical modification: Guidance on which physical treatments (drying, distillation, microwaves, sonication) can be treated as non‑modifying and thus preserve “natural” status.
- Fermentation and carbon sources: Answers on when fermentation yields natural ingredients (e.g., fermentation reactions occurring in nature and leading to molecules occurring in nature).
- Extracts, reconstitution and water types: Treatment of extraction water, reconstitution water, aromatic waters and water of crystallization in index calculations.
- Examples and FAQs: Numerous worked examples explaining index calculations and practical scenarios to help suppliers and formulators apply the rules consistently.
- Green chemistry considerations: References to green chemistry principles used in ISO 16128 guidance.
Practical applications - who uses this standard
- Ingredient manufacturers - to prepare accurate composition, origin and processing declarations for customers.
- Cosmetic formulators and manufacturers - to verify ingredient categories, compute natural/organic indexes for product claims and label information.
- Regulatory and compliance teams - to assess claim substantiation and consistency with ISO 16128 guidance.
- Certification bodies and auditors - as a reference for interpreting extraction methods, solvents, and fermentation in audits.
- R&D and product marketing - to design formulations that meet natural/organic targets and to create compliant marketing claims.
Related standards
- ISO 16128‑1:2016 - Guidelines on definitions and criteria for natural and derived natural ingredients.
- ISO 16128‑2:2017 - Methods for calculating natural and organic indexes and contents.
- ISO 9235 - Terminology for aromatic natural raw materials (relevant for fragrance ingredient classification).
Keywords: ISO/TR 23750:2021, ISO 16128, natural origin index, cosmetics, ingredient characterization, process solvents, extracts, fermentation, INCI.
