Vegan Collagen Market Analysis & Overview:

The Vegan Collagen Market size was valued at USD 380.83 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 4,573.73 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 36.46% over the forecast period of 2025-2032.

Vegan collagen is on the rise, in part due to consumers seeking sustainable, cruelty-free ingredients and new plant-based collagen peptides innovation. Gelator, one of the leading brands in vegan collagen, leads up to market trends in clean beauty and functional nutrition by positioning its offerings, including NaColl for healthier manageability of hair in a more niche formulation. The expansion of the vegan collagen market is also driven by the availability of e-commerce and avenues for direct-to-consumer sales channels.

Regulatory approval, such as an FDA letter of no objection for a non-animal type 21 collagen polypeptide granting 95% protein (w/w) for use in foods and beverages, for example, also supports market confidence and application opportunities. Backed by such endorsement, this endorsement segment fuels the vegan collagen market share. Innovation, consumer demand, and regulatory validation are rapidly transforming the supply of vegan collagen, opening the door for widespread acceptance of these vegan collagen supplements and plant-based collagen products.

Vegan Collagen Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

• Rising Precision Fermentation Innovations Enable Scalable Production of Plant-based Collagen Peptides

Advancements in precision fermentation that enable the commercially viable production of high-value and biomimetic products including collagen peptides on an industrial scale are fueling the vegan collagen market growth. Companies including Geltor Inc. have successfully commercialized proprietary fermentation systems that produce high-purity and animal-free, human-identical collagen replicas, such as NuColl for hair-care products, achieved through its launch in January 2023.

This development has also mitigated production bottlenecks and strengthened supply-chain flexibility, thus augmenting the rising momentum of the vegan collagen market in the nutraceutical and personal-care space. In addition, recent advances in fermentation strains at Evonik Industries AG have increased collagen peptide yields by more than 20%, allowing for quality to be maintained and manufacturing costs to be reduced. These advances expand the market share for manufacturers driven by biotechnology in the vegan collagen industry and serve as a foundation of detailed market analysis predicting a broad spectrum of applications in food, drink, and dietary supplements.

• Increasing Consumer Preference for Clean-label, Cruelty-free Supplements Fuels Market Expansion

One significant driver propelling the expansion of the Vegan Collagen market is the rising demand from consumers for transparent, clean-label, efficacious solutions, which is evidenced by a survey that found 68% of the U.S. adults believe that a cruelty-free certification is very or somewhat important when choosing or purchasing a nutritional supplement. The change has fast-tracked the introduction of vegan collagen from legacy wellness brands, with MaryRuth Organics seeing its plant-based collagen peptide range sales up 15% YOY in FY 2023.

Mainstream grocery sales of plant-based protein products have increased by 12% in calendar-year 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture retail data illustrates, signaling broad acceptance across the market. As more and more consumers are demanding more ethically produced beauty and nutrition products, global vegan collagen market statistics indicate that consumers are switching from animal-based collagen proteins to biotech-based proteins. There is a growing trend of consumers demanding ingredients that are responsibly sourced, due to which the vegan collagen market is witnessing a boost, along with the majority of vegan collagen businesses gaining power in the market.

Restraints:

• Limited Consumer Awareness of Fermentation-derived Collagen Alternatives Restricts Mainstream Adoption

The general unfamiliarity of consumers with fermentation-based collagen peptides is a major obstacle to growing the vegan collagen market. Industry studies by the American Nutrition Association in mid-2024 revealed that just 22% of supplement consumers accurately identified “precision fermentation” as a production process for plant-based collagen, whereas 45% had mistakenly thought all vegan collagen products were derived solely from plant extracts.

This lack of understanding results in scepticism by health-and-wellness consumers who are familiar with animal-derived collagen, therefore limiting trial rates and word-of-mouth advocacy. In turn, top vegan collagen brands are focusing on educational marketing initiatives and working with medical professionals to provide information on safety and effectiveness. However, until more extensive consumer education becomes the predominant force, the vegan collagen space will continue to struggle to gain significant mainstream market share including traditional collagen.

Vegan Collagen Market Segmentation Analysis:

By Source

The vegetable source segment dominated and holds the major share of 44.2% in the vegan collagen market as they have a richer content and excessive availability of nutrients. Vegetable-derived collagen peptides from sources, such as peas and spinach are the preferred options as they are more bioavailable and can be used in supplements and cosmetics. 3.5 Position of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Growth in consumption of plant protein is also encouraged, and the demand for vegetable-based collagen is propelled. Reports from the USDA in 2023 have verified the growing availability of plant proteins used in vegan supplements, boosting the market share of soy and pea proteins within the international vegan collagen marketplace.

The fruit segment is the fastest-growing segment with a CAGR of 36.00% by 2024. Fruit-based vegan collagen, from fruits, such as berries and citrus that are abundant in antioxidants and provide skin health support, is emerging as a popular option. This growth is propelled by the trend for natural and clean-label ingredients. Antioxidants help to stimulate collagen production under the skin, enabling skin repair, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It can be boosted with the use of fruit-based collagen peptides, as Vegan collagen companies are making more investments in vegan collagen due to demand for functional plant-based supplements. This is, in turn, varying the demand for vegan collagen, which in turn drives a healthy growth of the vegan collagen market in these fruit-based sources.

By Form

The powder segment held the majority market share of 54.00% in 2024. Vegan collagen powders are still the most popular type as they are easy to use, have good expiration periods, and are cost-effective. According to the USDA, sales of powdered plant protein are on the rise in health foods and beverages. This form mixes well in shakes, smoothies, and functional foods, facilitating broad adoption. Regulatory bodies, such as the FDA have approved numerous powders and have confirmed their safety. Sustainability and versatility of powders aid vegan collagen companies in maintaining their dominance in the vegan collagen market.

The liquid form was anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR of 36.83% in 2024. Its liquid form of vegan collagen supplements and serums is its fastest-growing category, as people are more likely to notice results, and they have more options in terms of absorption and convenience. Topical vegan collagen serums for skin care are in development, supported by the Food and Drug Administration, promoting innovation. Vegan liquid skincare products were up by more than 20% in 2023, as reported by the Personal Care Products Council. This expansion is being fuelled by consumer desire for clean, cruelty-free cosmetics and supplements. Vegan collagen market trends across the market have been witnessing the rise in launches of liquid formats by leading vegan collagen companies, driving the market penetration further.

By End-use

Food & beverages dominated the vegan collagen market with a share of 37.5% in 2024. The food & beverages is the leading segment as demand for plant-based protein drinks, bars, and snacks enriched with vegan collagen increases. Recent food consumption figures from the USDA reveal an annual 12% increase in sales of plant-based beverages, alongside FDA approval of plant collagen peptides as safe ingredients. Vegan collagen has become a trend among health-conscious consumers, especially those who are looking for healthy options in functional beverages and nutrition bars. This pushes up the vegan collagen market revenue in food & beverages as manufacturing companies try to cater to consumer needs.

The personal care & cosmetics is the fastest-growing segment with a 37.11% CAGR in 2024. The rapid growth of the personal care & cosmetics sector is attributed to the growing consumer inclination toward vegan and cruelty-free products for skin with collagen peptides. Vegan beauty launches rose 20% in 2023, according to the Personal Care Products Council. Vegan collagen serums and creams for the face provide anti-aging benefits backed by FDA guidelines for Maximum cosmetic safety. Vegan collagen brands like MaryRuth Organics post high-volume sales generation, showing vibrant vegan collagen market expansion and reviews in this range. A focus on consumers' clean beauty and sustainability trends continues to propel growth.

Vegan Collagen Market Regional Outlook:

In 2024, North America dominated with a share of 32.5%. The U.S. had a share of approximately 74% of this market with a value of USD 91.59 million in 2024, owing to a regulatory push for non-animal collagen peptides in food and dietary uses. With consumers’ appetite for sustainable, plant-based nutrition showing no signs of slowing down, it is also driving mass appeal across supplements and functional beverages. Canada, which was favored by a lax regulatory environment and a rise in vegan product launches, accounted for about 14%. Mexico accounted for 12%, as the growing wellness industry embraced numerous vegan collagen supplements that were available in stores. The prominence of North America is attributed to significant innovation, development in clean-label products, and increasing awareness about plant-based health options.

Asia Pacific held 24.4% in 2024 and is the fastest-growing region. India led regional growth with the growing popularity of cruelty-free supplements and local approvals for plant-based collagen equivalents. China came in second at 30% with growing biotechnology-driven collagen advancements in personal care and cosmetics. Australia is up with heavy research investments into plant proteins. Japan and South Korea, both countries, held a 20% stake due to a robust technology market for vegan skincare and supplements. The region’s growth is driven by a growing population of younger consumers, increasing disposable income, and shifting consumer preferences toward sustainable and plant-based nutrition and cosmetics solutions.

Europe accounted for a share of 26.0% in 2024. The highest contribution came from Germany, which accounted for approximately 37% due to its increased production of plant-based products and high consumption of vegan supplements. The U.K. was next up at 22 percent, driven by interest in clean-label, cruelty-free beauty and wellness items. France accounted for 14%, Spain and Italy collectively accounted for 18% each, with dietary preferences increasingly shifting away from animal-based products. Local health campaigns around sustainable eating are driving the use of plant-based collagen peptides. This is due to a well-developed market environment, an established set of dietary trends supported by governments, and the superior level of product innovation performed by regional vegan collagen vendors.

Key Players:

The major competitors in the vegan collagen market include Geltor Inc., Evonik Industries AG, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Rousselot BV, Jland Biotech Co., Ltd., Tianjin Norland Biotech Co., Ltd., Shaoxing Marina Biotechnology Co., Ltd., BASF SE, DIC Corporation, and Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

Recent Developments:

• May 2025: DR. Rashel launched India’s first 100% vegan bio-collagen deep facial mask with ocean-derived collagen and soya fiber, offering salicylic acid, niacinamide, and kojic acid variants.

• January 2025: Brenntag partnered with Cambrium to launch NovaColl, an AI-engineered, micro-molecular vegan collagen for skincare across key European beauty markets, including the UK, France, and Italy.