In recent years, collagen has gained immense popularity in the health and wellness industry, with promises of smoother skin, stronger joints and better gut health. As consumer demand for collagen supplements and beauty products continues to rise, concerns about traceability and sustainability have come to the forefront.
So, what exactly is traceability? How does this apply to our collagen and why would it be important? And how does sustainability apply to a health and wellness product?
Read on to discover the importance of collagen traceability and to understand Organic Collagen Australia’s sustainable practices that safeguard both our health and the health of the planet.
Understanding Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, providing structure and support to various tissues, including skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. As we age, our natural collagen production declines, leading to wrinkles, joint pain, and other signs of aging. This has led to an increased interest in collagen supplementation to help replenish these essential building blocks.
The Traceability Factor
Traceability refers to the ability to track the journey of a product or ingredient from its origin to the final product. For collagen, traceability is crucial to ensure its safety, efficacy, certification and ethical sourcing. It involves tracing the entire supply chain, starting from the raw materials (usually bovine, marine, or porcine sources) to the manufacturing process and finally to the end product.
The Importance of Collagen Traceability:
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Quality Assurance:
Collagen supplements and beauty products are only as good as the collagen used in them. Knowing the source and production process helps verify the quality, ensuring that the product contains the claimed type of collagen and that it is free from contaminants.
- Safety and Purity:
Traceability allows for rigorous testing and screening for any harmful substances, allergens, or impurities that might compromise the safety of the product.
- Ethical Sourcing:
Traceability ensures that collagen is derived from responsible and sustainable sources. Transparent supply chains discourage practices like overfishing or unethical treatment of animals, promoting greater accountability in the industry.
- Certifications:
Organic Collagen Australia’s products showcase the world’s first Certified Organic Collagen. To achieve this certification, every single step along the supply chain must also be certified organic. We utilise Certified Organic cattle by-products from Certified Organic farms, then apply our Certified Organic production process. This translates to the only Certified Organic Collagen in the world! Our collagen has been validated by both the ACO in Australia, and the USDA National Organics Program in the USA. Due to our traceability, Organic Collagen Australia can tell you exactly which farm in South East Queensland we have sourced our raw materials from.
Sustainability Practices in OCA's Collagen Production
The quest for sustainable collagen practices aligns with the growing awareness of the impact of our consumer choices on the environment. Organic Collagen Australia's sustainable collagen production focuses on minimising waste, reducing carbon footprints and promoting responsible sourcing.
- Animal Welfare:
Organic Collagen Australia exclusively uses ethically raised, grass-fed Certified organic cattle, to provide a more sustainable source of bovine collagen. These animals have access to open pasture, reducing the environmental strain associated with intensive farming and feed-lot practices. There is a strong focus on stress minimisation for the cattle, with access to open pastures, water and shade at all times.
- Regenerative Agriculture:
Organic Collagen Australia partners with Certified Organic cattle farms. For a farm to receive Certified Organic status, there are strict rules that apply to the farms approach to soil health, biodiversity, and water conservation, contributing to more sustainable farming methods. Certified Organic rules means that no farm certified as organic can be cleared for farming, nor can a farm be certified as organic if it has ever been cleared in the past.
- Environmental Impact:
Organic Collagen Australia’s collagen is produced via the only Certified Organic production process in the world! This means that our production process is free from heavy chemicals, industrial solvents and saline that would otherwise get released into the environment during processing. This pure production process also translates to no heavy metals or trace chemicals in the end product.
- Upcycling
Organic Collagen Australia exclusively use bovine by-products. This means we utilise materials that were destined for landfill. By diverting these by-products from landfill, we have managed to keep 44,500kg of carbon emissions (CO2) from the environment. To put that into perspective, that equates to keeping one car off the road for a trip of 225,888km. Or to put it another way, driving from Sydney to Los Angeles return… 10 times!
- Eco-Friendly Packaging:
Organic Collagen Australia choose completely recyclable and recycled, biodegradable packaging materials to further minimise our environmental impact.
Collagen traceability and sustainability are essential aspects that consumers should consider when choosing collagen products.
By supporting Organic Collagen Australia and our products, you are supporting a transparent and ethical supply chain protecting both your health and the health of the planet.
