No. 1031 - Miljøstyrelsen

56
tained because the used siloxanes are volatile and can give extra softness. It
has so far been difficult to find alternatives that can match these properties,
and especially cyclomethicone is difficult to substitute. Dimethicone is in general
easier to substitute, because the same properties can often be obtained
with different types of vegetable oils. A test of one of the alternatives in Table
5.1 has shown that the developed alternative can give almost the same properties
as cyclomethicone in the tested cosmetic emulsion. Emulsions are regarded
to be one of the most problematic products to substitute cyclomethicone
from.
The functional silicone oils, which for example can be a mix of cyclomethicone
and dimethicone, are even more problematic to substitute, as the mixture
of the different siloxanes is made to obtain some very specific properties.
Polyether-modified silicones and other types of functional silicones will give
the same problem, and alternatives have so far not been regarded.
The typical content of siloxanes in the products is below 2% of the final cosmetic
product, but the content can according to SPT (The Danish trade organization
for cosmetics and toiletries) vary between 0.5-40%, depending on
the products in which the siloxanes are used.
Table 5.1 shows identified alternatives to siloxanes used in cosmetic products.
5.1.1 Neopentylglycol heptanoate
Neopentylglycol heptanoate is an alternative to dimethicone in different cosmetic
products like conditioners and leave-on products. Neopentylglycol
heptanoate has the same good spreadability as dimethicone and can like dimethicone
be used as solvent for other substances and emulsifiers. The substance
has just been introduced in Denmark, and customers have according to
the supplier shown great interest in the alternative, but the substance cannot
be found in Danish cosmetic products yet.
The price of neopentylglycol heptanoate is approximately the double of the
price for dimethicone, as 1 kg of dimethicone costs approximately 50 DKK
per kg, while the alternative costs approximately 100 DKK per kg. The use of
neopentylglycol heptanoate should according to the supplier not result in
changes in the production equipment. It would though be necessary to change
the packaging, due to changes in the declaration.
5.1.2 Isodecyl neopentanoate
Isodecyl neopentanoate is an alternative to cyclomethicone. It can be used in
leave-on products, conditioners and perhaps also in shampoos and cream
soaps. Isodecyl neopentanoate has high spreadability like cyclomethicone and
gives a soft feeling like cyclomethicone. It can be used as solvent and emulsifier.
The alternative is new on the Danish market and has not been sold to
Danish customers yet, but customers have shown great interest in the product.
Isodecyl neopentanoate is quite expensive compared to cyclomethicone. Cyclomethicone
costs approximately 45 DKK/kg, while the price of isodecyl
neopentanoate is expected to be approximately 100 DKK/kg. The use of the
isodecyl neopentanoate should according to the supplier not result in changes
in the production equipment. It would though be necessary to change the
packaging, due to the changes in the declaration.