Collagen is the most important structural protein in the extracellular matrix, which is found in all the body’s connective tissues. It is the most common protein in animals, accounting for 25 to 35 percent of total protein content. It is the major component of connective tissue. Collagen is made up of amino acids bonded together to form a collagen helix, which is a triple helix of elongated fibril. It’s typically present in cartilage, bones, tendons, ligaments, and skin. However, vegan collagen is made from genetically modified yeast and bacteria, specifically the bacteria P. pastoris. It then has four human genes that code for collagen added, along with the digestive enzyme pepsin.
Emergence of Vegan Collagen to Catalyze Market Growth
The veganism trends are rapidly rising in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific markets. According to the Harris Poll conducted on behalf of the Vegetarian Resource Group, as of March 2019, 2% of American citizens considered themselves as vegan. Veganism was one of the top 5 searched terms on Google in 2019 in the UK and across the globe, according to Google Trends. Plant-based products have gained huge traction owing to shifting consumer preferences towards sustainable products, growing affiliation for animals, and rising awareness of animal protection. Moreover, a wide range of plant-based products are available across multiple retail channels including supermarket chains such as Walmart, Kroger, Lidl, and online retail platforms, among others. The growth of veganism has compelled the collagen manufacturers to launch plant-based or vegan-friendly collagen. Recently, in 2020, Evonik Industries developed vegan-friendly collagen using micro-organisms and fermentation-based processes that do not use animal-derived materials. The collagen is produced under controlled environment making it suitable for vegans. Such product developments are expected to fuel the growth of collagen market over the forecast period.
A few players operating in the collagen market are GELITA AG; Gelnex; Lapi Gelatine S.p.a; Ewald-Gelatine GmbH; RABJ.CO., LTD; Vinh Hoan Corporation; Weishardt; Protein S.A.; Nippi Inc.; and Nitta Gelatin Inc. among few others.
