**4. Collagen market and its applications**

#### **4.1 Collagen industries**

There are many collagen-producing companies in around the world. However, not all of them produce 100% pure collagen but rather gelatine (hydrolysed collagen). These companies lack further innovation with the collagen, thus distributing the collagen in powder or liquid form to pharmaceutical and research industries. Therefore, extracting collagen from bovine hides and using this collagen to investigate high value applications would possibly generate huge economic potential for a product that is derived of waste materials.

Collagen plays an important role both in the mammalian and the nonmammalian body and in its extracted form. Due to collagen's high mechanical strength, it finds applications in several different industries, ranging from biomedical to the food industries.

#### *4.1.1 Gelita*

Gelita is the world's leading supplier of hydrolysed collagen proteins for the food, health and pharmaceutical industries. Gelita is based in numerous locations around the world with its headquarters in Germany [35]. However, the collagen Gelita produces is not 100% native collagen but hydrolysed collagen, in other terms it is gelatine.

#### *4.1.2 Southern lights biomaterials*

Based in Napier New Zealand, Southern Lights Biomaterials was founded in 2003. They provide high-quality processed and semi-processed biomaterials to medical device manufacturers across the globe. One of their flagships processed products is polymeric collagen, which is delivered to contracted customers [36].

The polymeric collagen produced by Southern Lights Biomaterials is type I collagen derived from bovine tendon and is naturally cross-linked [36]. They do not take advantage of using cattle hides or face-pieces. Their collagen is sold to independent contractors without further processing.

#### *4.1.3 Revolution fibres*

Revolution Fibres produce and market nano-fibre and nano-fibre products. Based in Auckland New Zealand, Revolution Fibres has developed its own technology for the industrial production of nano-fibre. This technology is called electrospinning [37]. Revolution Fibres manufacture biodegradable air filters from nano-particle sized fibres that are 'electro-spun' from collagen extracted from Hoki fish skins. They have launched a skincare range using collagen fibres to deliver plant extracts into the skin [38].

#### *4.1.4 Waitaki biosciences*

Waitaki Biosciences based in Christchurch New Zealand manufactures speciality nutritional supplement ingredients from natural, biological sources. Waitaki

*Collagen: From Waste to Gold DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94266*

Biosciences aims to target joint and bone health, immune and digestive support, along with skin and hair care. Marine collagen, natural collagen and chondroitin complex are some of their products [39]. The marine collagen produced by Waitaki Biosciences is in powder form, with a blend of ingredients selected from marine species. This marine collagen is designed for use as an oral supplement to support skin, nail and hair health [40].

Observing the collagen suppliers in New Zealand, there is a clear shortage in further innovation with the extracted collagen. Most of the above collagen suppliers distribute the collagen in a powder form or a liquid solution and export to external markets or distribute to local contractors. This collagen once supplied to contractors is usually blended in cosmetic products or encapsulated as pills in the pharmaceutical industry.
