ISO 16128-2-2017 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 16128-2-2017 — Cosmetics — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients — Part 2: Criteria for ingredients and products. This part defines calculation approaches and practical rules to determine natural, natural‑origin, organic and organic‑origin indexes for cosmetic ingredients and to estimate the natural/organic content of finished cosmetic products.

Abstract

Part 2 of ISO 16128 describes methods to calculate natural, natural origin, organic and organic origin indexes that apply to the ingredient categories defined in ISO 16128‑1 and provides a framework to determine these contents at the finished‑product level. It clarifies rules for special ingredient types (for example extracts and various types of water) and sets out exclusions (this standard does not address labelling/claims, human or environmental safety, socio‑economic considerations or packaging).

General information

• Status: Published (confirmed in 2023).
• Publication date: September 2017.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 71.100.70 (Cosmetics, toiletries).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2017); Amendment 1 issued 2022 (ISO 16128‑2:2017/Amd 1:2022).
• Number of pages: 13 pages (main document); amendment published separately.

Scope

Provides technical rules and calculation methods to (a) determine natural, natural‑origin, organic and organic‑origin indexes for cosmetic ingredients, and (b) aggregate those ingredient values into product‑level content values. Intended to be used together with ISO 16128‑1 (definitions for ingredient categories). The document explicitly excludes guidance on product claims/labelling, safety assessments, socio‑economic criteria (e.g. fair trade) and packaging.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and calculation methods for four indexes: natural index, natural‑origin index, organic index and organic‑origin index.
• Rules for classifying ingredient categories (pure substances, plant/animal/mineral materials, extracts, mixtures) — used in conjunction with ISO 16128‑1 definitions.
• Specific rules for extracts, solvents, processing aids and how to treat formulation water (options to include or exclude water from calculations).
• Procedures to combine ingredient indexes into finished product content values and to report those values consistently.
• Clarifications and practical examples to ensure consistent application across ingredient suppliers, formulators and certifiers.

Typical use and users

Used by cosmetic ingredient manufacturers, finished‑product formulators, sustainability teams, certification bodies, regulatory affairs specialists and private ecolabelling schemes to quantify and document the natural/organic content of ingredients and products. It is also used as a technical reference by auditors and by marketing teams for internal verification (note: the standard itself is not a labelling code and does not set claim rules).

Related standards

Directly linked with ISO 16128‑1 (Part 1: Definitions for ingredients). Private-sector specifications and labels (for example COSMOS and NATRUE) and regional regulatory frameworks may impose additional or different criteria for natural/organic claims; these private specifications were influential in the development and interpretation of ISO 16128.

Keywords

ISO 16128, natural cosmetics, organic cosmetics, natural index, organic index, ingredient classification, cosmetics standards, extracts, formulation water, cosmetic ingredient criteria.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 16128‑2:2017 is the second part of the ISO 16128 guidance series; it provides criteria and calculation methods to quantify the natural and organic content of cosmetic ingredients and finished products.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers index definitions (natural, natural‑origin, organic, organic‑origin), calculation approaches for ingredients (including extracts and special cases) and methods to combine ingredient values into product‑level content values. It does not address labeling rules, safety, packaging or socio‑economic issues.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Ingredient suppliers, product formulators, certifiers and auditors, regulatory affairs and product compliance teams, and sustainability or marketing professionals who need a technical basis for quantifying natural/organic content.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The standard was published in September 2017 (Edition 1) and the document was reviewed and confirmed in 2023; an Amendment 1 was issued in 2022. The ISO record lists the standard as published and confirmed (i.e., current with amendment).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 2 of ISO 16128; Part 1 (ISO 16128‑1:2016) provides the ingredient category definitions that Part 2 uses for its calculations.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Natural index, organic index, natural origin, organic origin, extracts, cosmetic ingredients, ISO 16128, ingredient classification, product content calculation.