Collagen well positioned to respond to growing cosmetic and sports sectors, report says

26-Apr-2021 - Last updated on 23-Apr-2021 at 12:34 GMT

The market for collagen peptide products are still a long way from their peak, a new report suggests as it cites probiotics and omega 3’s developmental paths as evidence that collagen’s product lifecycle is still at a very early stage.

The report highlights market for collagen peptides– the hydrolysed and most bioavailable form of collagen – is already growing at about 8% a year (CAGR,2020-2024), buoyed on by the beauty-from within and sports nutrition segments.

Despite this figure the report, commissioned by PB Leiner and conducted by research firm Frost & Sullivan, believes market penetration for collagen peptide ingredients and products to be relatively low across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.

“In comparison with other, more mature health ingredient categories, collagen peptides are still at a relatively early stage of their evolution across all continents,” comments Tomasz Bochenski, Senior Consultant at Frost & Sullivan and lead researcher on the report.

“This means significant opportunities remain for manufacturers, retailers and investors. Developing new applications for collagen peptides in terms of functionality and product innovation will further expand the market.

“This will allow it to reach new customers who might not yet be aware of the many scientifically proven health benefits of collagen peptides.”

Scientific evidence

Collagen peptides’ link to good skin, hair and nail health was emphasised in one recent study that concluded collagen consumption ‘significantly’ improved skin hydration.

On the sports nutrition front, research published last year demonstrated ‘notable changes’ in muscle recovery between a group that supplemented with collagen peptides and the control group, who did not.

The nutrition industry continues to make use of collagen’s versatility with a range of foods and delivery formats that look to deliver its benefits as well as minimal compromises on taste and texture.

Earlier in 2020, Danone made available a collagen-packed yogurt in North America, Light & Fit, which the food giants said was the "first packaged yogurt with collagen”.

Likewise, Swiss food giant Nestlé also revealed in 2020 that it was entering the collagen space through the acquisition of Vital Proteins, which has a presence in both North America and Europe.

The report discusses collagen’s presence in the food and beverage sector stating its incorporation of is at an earlier stage of growth compared to dietary supplements, yet it has already been proven to attract customers who value ease of intake.

Its incorporation into foods allows producers to mix collagen peptides with other nutraceuticals and health ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, biotin, zinc, and other vitamins and minerals for additional support for skin, joint, and bones health.

Additionally, protein bars for sports nutrition have to date been the most common type of products containing collagen peptides.

Collagen’s future

In discussing the ingredients’ future, the report cites the penetration of collagen peptides as still relatively low, ranging from 0.1% in the Asia-Pacific, 0.3% in Europe and 0.7% in North America.

The highest scores were calculated for probiotics (EU - 25.8% ,US - 43.7%, APAC - 5.4%) which were explained by high differences in dosages between healthy individuals and those undergoing medical treatment. The report applied a similar reasoning to caffeine and green tea extracts.

However, Omega-3 (EU - 11.7%, US - 27.6%, APAC - 2.8%) could serve as a benchmark for the possible market penetration of health ingredients for the general public, as these ingredients are widely used across the globe.

The report states that going forwards, collagen peptides are well-positioned to respond to megatrends that currently shape society, such as an ageing population and the associated joint-related conditions.

Equally, an increasing awareness of the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle will likely see an increase in injuries related to joints and bones and thus collagen peptide-enriched sports nutrition products are well positioned to respond.

“Frost & Sullivan’s analysis perfectly aligns with what we and other observers have seen: collagen peptides are starting to go mainstream, gaining wider acceptance and familiarity among end consumers,” comments Cindy Dekeyser, Global Business Intelligence Manager at PB Leiner.

“This means consumer requirements are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with more and more differentiation in product concepts and quality needed to stand out from the crowd.

That is where we, as a global leader in collagen, step in: we assist our customers in translating trends into on-trend concepts,” she adds.

This customised support, ranging from market intelligence to new product development to technical support, significantly enhances customer success.”