Rousselot levels up porcine collagen market presence with production line at flagship Ghent facility

26 Jan 2022 --- Darling Ingredients’ health brand Rousselot is opening a new production line for porcine collagen with a manufacturing plant in Belgium. The facility specializes in manufacturing Peptan P, a bioactive protein used in supplements and functional F&B as a skinceutical and to support joint and muscle function.

“The potential uses for porcine collagen ingredients are virtually endless,” tells Rousselot.

“Peptan P can be added to home-cooked dishes like jellies, cereal bars and smoothies for a powerful health boost.”

Porcine collagen is reportedly cost-effective, “highly bioavailable,” cold-water soluble and has a neutral flavor. The facility for porcine collagen expands the company’s capacity to produce its collagen ingredients, which also includes that derived from bovine and marine sources.

The US-based company says it opened the new production line in response to a rising global demand for collagen ingredients, citing figures by Innova Market Insights which observed a three-fold increase in collagen-based product launches from 2017 to 2021.

Rousselot informs that pork-derived collagen has been long overlooked in the past, but this is reportedly about to change.

Porcine collagen is mainly derived from the joints and skin of pigs.Lower prices open the market to consumers on a budget
Rousselot informs that the lower cost of its porcine collagen opens up the market for newer demographics.

“Because it is more accessible and therefore highly cost-effective, porcine collagen allows manufacturers to formulate premium products, at an entry level price. These options serve as a door opener to consumers on a budget, for whom collagen-based products have previously been out of reach,” the company enthuses.

“This advantage applies to many different markets including beauty, active and healthy aging applications.”

Rousselot goes on to detail that, while most parts of the global market consume porcine collagen in some way, East Asia and Latin America show the most potential for market growth.

“While this form of collagen is sold in virtually every territory around the world, countries such as Japan, China, South Korea where porcine collagen has been commonly used for centuries, are already actively searching for solutions like Peptan P.” 

Rousselot also says that porcine collagen is well-suited to regions such as Mexico and other countries in Latin America, where there are few cultural aversions to the consumption of pork.

Producing porcine collagen since the 1960s
Expanding production secures Rousselot’s clients’ access to collagen ingredients, and reduces delivery times for regional clients, says Rousselot.

The new facility is HACCP, IFS and FSFC-certified, and has specialized in the processing of porcine collagen since 1962. 

According to the ingredient maker, the plant is “one of the largest” of its kind in the world.

“To obtain hydrolyzed collagen peptides from the raw material, we use a multi-step process of hydrolysis in hot water, filtration, concentration, sterilization, drying and an enzymatic step to ensure the collagen molecule is broken down to deliver the expected health benefits,” Rousselot explains.

The production line will serve as Rousselot’s fifth manufacturing facility for collagen. In addition to the facility in Belgium, the company also produces its Peptan P ingredient at one facility in the US, one in France and two in Brazil. Rousselot says porcine collagen's market presence is set to grow across the globe.

Diversifying the collagen market
Rousselot says its bovine and marine collagen ingredients have seen great success, especially in recent years, but there are opportunities for porcine collagen to take up a more prominent role on the market. For example, collagen derived from pigs has twice as much hydroxyproline, an amino acid responsible for collagen synthesis, as marine collagen does. 

Peptan P is made from GMO-free pigs raised on “registered European farms” and the origin and journey of all raw materials used to produce it are fully traceable, says Rousselot. 

Rousselot’s Peptan supplements serve as an ingredient in over 200 commercially available products, including nutrition powders, tablets, serums and functional beverages. 

The market for collagen products is supported by the beauty-from-within trend, in addition to a growing body of studies showcasing the potential for the ingredient in treating various health concerns for people of different ages.

Because of the growing body of research, more products are being highlighted and approved by regulatory bodies for sale and entering on the global market. Just last year, the patent for Certified Nutraceuticals’ KollaJell marine collagen was approved by the Chinese government. 

In August, Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition’s Indigo Marine Collagen brand released its skin, hair and bone-boosting supplements in different tropical flavors to boost beauty-from-within.

Edited by Olivia Nelson