Why collagen is a must-have ingredient?

Collagen’s health benefits have been known for centuries, but only in the 1970s did collagen start gaining mainstream appeal, reaching different consumer groups.

More than 30 years later, collagen peptides are experiencing growth globally – what are some of the key drivers supporting their growth, and why can collagen be a value-added ingredient for your products?

Consumer interest in collagen has never been higher

Collagen is more popular The popularity of collagen is higher than ever - more and more consumers around the world are entering "collagen" in their Google searches.

The collagen peptides market keeps growing

Consumer interest in collagen is naturally driving the growth of the market. According to an analysis conducted by research firm Frost & Sullivan in collaboration with PB Leiner, the market for collagen peptides – is already growing at about 7-8% a year (CAGR, 2020-2024). However, sales are still a long way from their peak.

With the vast untapped potential to expand into new markets, applications, and products, Frost & Sullivan expects momentum to accelerate and growth to reach new heights.

The growth is clearly reflected in more and more collagen product launches in various product categories

According to Innova Market Insights, the growth rate of new product launches containing collagen peptides has increased annually by over 25% over the past 10 years, in a multitude of concepts and categories.

As consumer awareness of this ingredient increases, collagen is no longer merely a niche ingredient, it is now added to multi-functional supplements, beverages, protein bars, confectionery, dairy products, and many more.

Health & wellness consumer trends: sports nutrition, protein trends, paleo, keto, gut health

As a natural ingredient, high in protein content, collagen can be easily integrated into any health and wellness trend:

Collagen, as a source of protein that is free from fat, is a popular ingredient in sports nutrition
Collagen is a protein that doesn’t contain any carbs, and perfectly fits the ketogenic diet beloved by so many celebrities
Collagen can help make fasting cycles in intermittent fasting easier thanks to its long-lasting satiety effect
Collagen is a highly digestible protein, perfect for incorporation in gut health products
Collagen is seen as a critical component that people have been omitting from their diets due to changes in eating habits, and a perfect addition to the paleo diet.

Consumers of all ages are concerned for bone and joint health

An aging population is the fastest growing consumer group, with an increasing number of people wanting to stay active for longer and looking into supplements supporting their mobility, bone and joint health. Some of the categories that have been driving new product development in “aging well” are energy/alertness, bone & joint health and beauty from within.

At the same time, younger populations are seeking prevention instead of treatment, so products that support mobility also one and joint health are increasingly popular among a wide range of active consumers - from professional athletes to “weekend warriors”, i.e. people who practice sporting activities only occasionally.

Products that target bone and joint issues typically feature collagen due to its positive impact on bone strength and density.

(C)lean labels are increasingly important for consumers

The quest for clean and natural products has become increasingly important in recent years – the consumers are reading product labels and looking into ingredients lists. Consumers are paying more attention to what goes into their food, seeking natural and healthy ingredients.

SOLUGEL® collagen peptides are the ideal ingredient choice for your healthy, clean and natural formulations as SOLUGEL® is:

Pure protein
Highly digestible
(C)lean label (no E-numbers)
Free from sugar, fat, cholesterol and carbohydrates
Free from additives and preservatives
Free from artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners
Gluten free
GMO-free
GRAS

Collagen has numerous health benefits

Numerous scientific publications have shown that collagen can support skin and bone and joint health, and it is an ideal ingredient to use in sports nutrition formulations:

Bone and joint health - supports bone and joint health while maintaining bone mineral density
Excellent addition to sports nutrition formulations – helps fight physical fatigue, boosts muscle recovery, while supporting bones and joints
Skin health - increases the hydration, elasticity, and firmness of the skin
Weight management –promotes satiety effect at the same time supporting healthy weight management⁴

SOLUGEL® collagen peptides have been clinically proven to promote skin health and satiety. Click here for our skin health study and here for the satiety study.

(1) GME: COLLAGEN PEPTIDES – YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW

(2) Google Trends, 2021

(3) Innova Market Insights Database, 2021

(4) Information about the scientific studies supporting these claims are available upon request (info@pbleiner.com)