Vegan Collagen: Youthful Skin, Ethical Choices, Part 2 of 2

“Brand owners can now offer consumers sustainably sourced, skin-identical collagen. This true hero ingredient clearly shows how sustainability drives us and collaboration defines us.” Founded in 2015 by Dr. Alexander Lorestani and Dr. Nick Ouzounov, Geltor is a biodesign company based in San Leandro, United States, and a pioneering force in vegan collagen innovation, leveraging synthetic biology and precision fermentation to redefine ethical skincare. Building on this success, Geltor unveiled HumaColl21 in March 2019, the world’s first biomimetic human Type XXI collagen.

This wave of biotech innovation is echoed by Cambrium, a Berlin-based company redefining protein design. NovaColl stands out as the first micro-molecular vegan collagen designed specifically for skin applications, marking a new frontier in clean, science-driven beauty. In February 2024, Evonik Industries AG, headquartered in Essen, Germany, unveiled Vecollage Fortify L – a next-generation vegan collagen developed in collaboration with Modern Meadow.

From skincare to supplements, brands are embracing biotech-derived collagen and vegan plant-based boosters to meet growing demand for sustainable innovation. Vegan collagen is no longer a niche concept – it’s a mainstream movement transforming beauty and wellness routines across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The global market is projected to reach US$1.2 billion by 2033, growing at a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%.