Why we can’t ignore growing consumer demand for plant-based supplements
Roquette Pharma Solutions
Global leader in plant-based ingredients for pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and biopharmaceuticals
By? Steve Amoussou-Guenou ,?Global Technical Developer, Roquette
No longer seen as just a fad; vegan and vegetarian lifestyles are becoming a part of everyday life – and the momentum is building fast. Driven by a combination of religious, ethical, environmental, and health reasons, consumers are starting to turn their backs on animal-derived products. With an estimated 79 million vegans now in the world,[1] we can’t deny it’s becoming a strong factor for consumers when they make purchasing decisions.
It's no surprise then, that consumers are sitting up and taking notice of plant-based claims when it comes to their supplements, too. In fact, the global vegan supplements market is set to grow significantly in the next decade, as awareness takes off about the many benefits of vegan products and the vegan consumer base expands.[2] But as consumers, we’re used to having it all – is it too much to ask for supplements to be plant-based, easy to swallow, effective and have visual appeal? For nutraceutical brands, it’s time to pay attention to these consumer needs – using these insights to create patient-centric drugs that promote a positive experience, without compromising performance either.
Veggie softgels on the rise
Plant-based delivery formats are certainly nothing new. There’s already several veggie excipients out there, some of which have been on the market since before the plant-based trend started its recent boom. For softgel delivery formats though, the dominant solution for the outer shell component remains animal-derived – that is gelatin. And given the growing popularity of softgels in recent years, it’s an area we need to re-think. Softgels are favored by consumers and manufacturers alike, yet they don’t typically cater to this next generation of consumers who want plant-based supplements.
The nutraceutical industry is responding, however. Innovations in capsule formulation and the high consumption of supplements is propelling the market forward, with the value of vegetarian softgels expected to grow significantly.[1] We’re starting to really listen to consumers’ changing preferences – moving away from synthetic or animal-origin ingredients, and choosing more sustainable solutions with greener credentials.
First of a kind
So, how is the plant-based softgel market looking now? One of the main gelatin alternatives is modified starch – quality, performance and cost, however, have often been a barrier for nutraceutical manufacturers in the past – making them reluctant to make the switch from gelatin. But more advanced vegetarian options are now coming to the fore, helping to change the face of the market. Take pea starch, for example. An ingredient already well known in the food and beverage industry, formulators are now translating this success into nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.
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Roquette’s LYCAGEL? was the first pharmaceutical-grade vegetarian softgel on the market – helping to fill a vital gap for consumers. A high-performance, more sustainable plant-based alternative, the excipient is based on innovative hydroxypropyl pea starch technology. It delivers on that all-important consumer appeal, forming highly transparent, shiny capsules that are easy to swallow, with no animal smell and a neutral taste. LYCAGEL? also offers enhanced shelf life, providing excellent stability in warm environments, unlike its gelatin counterpart. We’re proud to say that as the first plant-based softgel technology to meet EU and US pharmacopeia standards, it has helped open up new opportunities across the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries on a global scale.
And with the most recent launch of LYCAGEL? Premix – a plant-based softgel blend – manufacturers can streamline many of the processing stages, making it easier to drop into existing systems on the line. All the while supporting claims, like non-GMO, halal, kosher and clean label. As steps forward like these are made in vegetarian softgel technology, it’s becoming clear that formulators no longer have to choose between performance and meeting consumer preferences.
Limitless possibilities
Demand for plant-based alternatives is showing no signs of slowing down and it’s never been a better time to invest in veggie softgel capsule options. Making the switch could make all the difference when you want your supplements to stand out on the increasingly crowded retail shelves. We’re committed to blending nature and leading science to create live-saving products that consumers feel happy to have in their medicine cabinets. Which is why the LYCAGEL? range is the ideal solution for meeting growing preferences for more sustainable, non-animal derived ingredients, with all the sensory benefits that softgels offer. Let’s talk about futureproofing your supplements.?
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