Eco-Friendly Collagen From Fish Is Making Waves

Eco-friendly collagen is making waves in the health and beauty industries because we know how important it is now to protect our planet. Almost everything we do has an implication on the health of Earth. Having said that, the collagen industry is about to grow bigger which is why researchers are finding innovative ways to extract the protein in a more sustainable way. Eco-friendly collagen extracted from fish is better for the climate and more suitable for vegetarians, which is why we’re jumping on board to find out more about it.

Apparently, researchers from Nofima – The Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, are able to extract high-quality eco-friendly collagen. This is amazing news since many people are major fans of using collagen supplements in their diets. Researchers are supposedly using eco-friendly collagen extracted from fish like cod, herring, and mackerel. This is a win-win because huge piles of fish skins get left to waste after fillet production. However, scientists have found a way to use these fish skins as a commodity.

We’re excited about this new discovery since eco-friendly collagen from fish scale waste is said to be a promising biological material to replace collagen from animals. Moreover, researchers state that fish collagen is safe, fat-free, free of communicable diseases and the human body can easily digest it. Everybody is praising collagen right now for its ability to reduce joint and muscle pain, improve skin, strengthen nails, and even hair. So there we can confidently say that collagen isn’t going anywhere in the health market.

Eco-Friendly Collagen Values Raw Materials

We can’t afford to waste anything nowadays which means we need to do our best to reuse any waste materials. That’s why researchers are very clever at finding a way to reuse fish scales to produce such a popular health and beauty product. In fact, studies state that finding a sustainable process to extract fish scale collagen is very necessary for the planet. This is because extracting collagen from fish scales by chemical methods often requires a long time. So although we’re not 100% there yet, we’re getting awfully close.

Up until this point, eco-friendly collagen hasn’t been a priority. The collagen currently on the market is usually extracted from cattle and pigs, which excludes vegetarians and some religious groups from using it. This isn’t ideal since many people are converting to a vegetarian or vegan diet. However, Nofima scientists have found specially-adapted methods for extracting various collagen products from other species.

These scientists say that they are able to extract high-quality commercialized and eco-friendly collagen products from fish like cod, coalfish, herring, and mackerel. They explained that they’re also working on adding more species. What does this mean? Well, more people who don’t eat red meat can start using collagen supplements. Amazing, right?

Just in case the collagen market wasn’t big enough, it’s about to get massive. Better yet, eco-friendly collagen from marine raw materials has a supposedly lower carbon footprint than its competing products. This is highly beneficial for manufacturers who can also highlight this fact in their marketing.

Supposedly, Wonderful Things Happen…

According to various sources, magical things happen to both your body and your skin when you take collagen supplements. Said to make your joints, bones, and muscles stronger and your hair bouncy. Who knows what else this wonder-supplement can do. Why though?

Experts explain that collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, and helps us stay strong and agile. It is in our skin, hair, and connective tissue, but as we grow older, we produce less. This is the problem. You’re not just going to take a collagen supplement to provide the body with more collagen but rather to boost its natural production. The issue is that not all collagen is produced equally, nor is every supplement eco-friendly collagen. So does every supplement work?

Studies state that we need long-term scientific studies with many participants to truly test the effects of collagen supplements in humans. However, we haven’t done this so most manufacturers rely on testimonials from individuals. Fortunately, we do have thousands who swear by collagen supplements. Eco-friendly collagen or not. There’s a massive demand for supplements which is why there are so many varieties on the market.

Valuable Waste Creates Eco-Friendly Collagen

In a world where we cannot afford to use all our natural resources and then chuck away the leftovers. We need to find as many ways to repurpose. Doing this means providing new sources of revenue for food manufacturers who generate a lot of surplus raw material in the course of manufacturing the main product. This is why Nofima has experimented with raw materials from reindeer, chicken, and various marine species. Amazingly, they have found ways to extract this popular protein to create eco-friendly collagen. However, every source and product requires its own method.

The company says they are working to extract valuable compounds from raw materials. But the overall goal is to utilize natural resources in the best possible way by turning cheap raw materials into valuable products that will boost the Norwegian food production sector. That means skin, bones, and intestines are tested for valuable components that can be extracted and used for different products. Apparently, fish skin is particularly rich in collagen.

Interestingly, there’s nothing new about the incredible benefits of fish skin. In fact, going back to ancient times fish skin was used for shoes and clothing. It’s very versatile, and it seems like such a waste to throw it away. But now with new research, we know that there are several marine species that are very suitable for eco-friendly collagen production. Not only is this a great opportunity for the Norwegian fisheries but for all other aquaculture industries.

How Do Scientists Extract Eco-Friendly Collagen?

According to Nofima, researchers use a process called hydrolysis.  This is where enzymes are added to the raw material which causes it to dissolve. They also use a series of different processes to separate dry matter from wet to create eco-friendly collagen.

This protein is also suitable for making various gelatin products. Fifteen years ago, these scientists succeeded in manufacturing gelatin from cod skin. The successful extraction of collagen from various animal species is a result of many years of research experience and excellent partnerships with industrial partners and European research communities.

At Biotep, lab results are tried out experimentally on a larger scale. Companies can come here to test their products for production readiness and get help in developing a production process in accordance with their needs.

Although these are new findings, there’s certainly a positive way forward for the population and the planet, particularly since collagen production is on the rise. Eco-friendly collagen products are what we need to start buying.

References

Collagen extracted from fish – better for the climate, suitable for vegetarians. Science Norway. https://partner.sciencenorway.no/fisheries-nofima-supplements/collagen-extracted-from-fish–better-for-the-climate-suitable-for-vegetarians/1616483

Characterization of Collagen Derived From Tropical Freshwater Carp Fish Scale Wastes and Its Amino Acid Sequence. Sage Journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1934578X19866288

Marine Collagen Market To Reach USD 1,040.1 Million By 2026 | Reports And Data. Global News Wire. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/03/1979034/0/en/Marine-Collagen-Market-To-Reach-USD-1-040-1-Million-By-2026-Reports-And-Data.html