Traditional soft gel manufacturers used gelatin, an animal-derived by-product. However, consumers with ethical or religious dietary restrictions demand better options. In response, manufacturers have developed gelatin capsule alternatives. According to The Market.US report, the Vegetarian Soft Gel Capsules market is expected to be worth USD 957.8 Million by 2033.
The materials for plant-based soft gels primarily consist of tapioca starch, vegetable glycerin, and sea weed extracts (carrageenan and alginates). These materials cater to the religious and dietary preferences of consumers such as vegans and vegetarians and offer several environmental benefits.
Sustainable soft gel manufacturing is gaining momentum, with some manufacturers opting for plant-based soft gel capsules. In this article, I explain the shift towards veggie soft gels, key ingredients, benefits, challenges, and innovations.
Understanding the Shift Towards Plant-Based Softgels
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Due to rising health consciousness, environmental concerns, and ethical considerations, many consumers are moving towards plant-based soft gel alternatives. Many industries are, therefore, adopting plant-based soft gel capsules in their products.
Traditional soft gels are made from animal-derived gelatin, which has been an issue of concern for vegans or vegetarians. Hence, the shift to gelatin capsule alternatives made from modified starch, cellulose, and carrageenan. The materials offer the same functional properties (easy digestibility, improved bioavailability) as gelatin but without the use of animal products.
Another reason for shifting towards plant-based soft gels is sustainability. Veggie soft gels are more environmentally friendly and have a lower carbon footprint than animal-based gelatin. Manufacturers and consumers advocate for more sustainable soft gel manufacturing, prioritizing eco-friendly and renewable processes.
Key Ingredients in Veggie Soft Gels: A Natural Approach
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Tapioca Starch
Veggie soft gels are gaining popularity as a natural and sustainable alternative to traditional gelatin-based capsules. These soft gels are made from plant-based ingredients for consumers who prioritize health and the environment. I highlight key ingredients in plant-based soft gels.
Cassava root is the main source of tapioca starch, a key ingredient in plant-based soft gels. Tapioca starch has a neutral taste and is durable and flexible, making it an excellent alternative to animal-based gelatin. I highlight some of the properties that make tapioca starch ideal for making soft gels.
- Forms a strong, smooth, clear gel: Tapioca starch provides a soft, flexible texture essential for capsules while maintaining a high level of bioavailability. It is completely plant-based, making it suitable for vegan, vegetarian and eco-concious consumers.
- Free from animal products: Tapioca starch comes from a renewable plant, completely free from animal products. The use of tapioca helps reduce reliance on animal-derived ingredients while supporting environmentally friendly farming practices. Cassava plants require less water and fewer pesticides.
- Consistent viscosity: Tapioca starch helps maintain the right viscosity in the soft gel shell, ensuring a uniform consistency. It improves the stability of the soft gel preventing deformation or leakage under varying environmental conditions.
- Encapsulates different active ingredients: Tapioca starch-based soft gels can encapsulate oil—and water-based ingredients. They are ideal for a variety of supplements, such as herbal extracts, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. The soft gel shells protect the active ingredients from oxidation, moisture, and other environmental factors, ensuring they remain stable and potent.
Sea Weed Extract
Another form of eco-friendly soft gels is seaweed extract, carrageen. It comes from red seaweed, and acts as a natural gelling agent, giving veggie soft gels their unique soft consistency. Seaweed supports sustainable harvesting practises, which have a lower environmental impact. It is also a renewable resource.
Seaweed has various properties, making it an ideal ingredient for the capsule shell and the active contents inside. Some of its best properties include.
- Stable and durable shell formation: Alginates (brown seaweed) and carrageenan( red seaweed) are ideal as gelling agents and stabilizers in plant-based soft gel shells. They help create a smooth, flexible, and durable soft gel similar to traditional gelatin capsules. Seaweed extracts soft gels are resistant to various environmental factors like temperatures and humidity.
- Encapsulation of nutrients: Seaweed extract is ideal for encapsulating omega-3 fatty acids from plant sources such as algae oil. It is a natural source of essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iodine, and antioxidants.
- Improved texture: Carrageenan improves the texture of the soft gel shell, giving it a soft yet firm feel. The extract helps to control the viscosity of the gel shell and the encapsulated liquid or semi-solid fill.
- Natural preservative: It has natural preservative properties, extending the shelf life of the soft gels by protecting them from environmental conditions.
Glycerin
Other ingredients that are standard in veggie soft gels include glycerin which also comes from plant sources. Glycerin helps to maintain the moisture and elasticity of capsules. It has the following properties.
- Plasticizer: Glycerin is a plasticizer in plant-based soft gel capsules, softening the capsule materials. They make the shell more flexible and elastic, preventing it from becoming brittle and cracking.
- Moisture retention: Glycerin attracts and maintains moisture, ensuring the eco-friendly soft gel stays hydrated, preventing drying. By keeping moisture within the capsule shell, glycerin helps prevent the soft gel capsule from shrinking or hardening during storage.
- Non-toxic: Glycerin is a non-toxic and mild ingredient. It makes the soft gels suitable for oral consumption. Glycerin is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and vegan softgel supplements.
- Improved swallowability: Glycerin maintain the moisture and flexibility of the soft gel shell. It makes the surface of the capsule smoother and less sticky, which aids in swallowing. Consumers will have an easier time swallowing larger soft gels, which might be challenging to ingest.
Health and Environmental Benefits of Plant-Based Softgels
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Gelatin capsule alternatives offers numerous health and environmental benefits. It is an ideal choice for most manufacturers and consumers, looking for a more health concious alternative to traditional gelatin-based capsules.
In the table below, I highlight the health and environmental benefits of plant-based soft gels.
| Health Benefits | Environmental Benefits |
| Veggie soft gels are made from plant-based materials instead of animal-based gelatin. It is an ideal choice for people who are concerned about animal welfare. | Standard ingredients in plant-based soft gels such as glycerin, tapioca starch and sea weed are derived from renewable plant sources. Growing these plants requires fewer resources and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Plant-based soft gels are free from allergens such as dairy, gluten, and soy. They are suitable for consumers with food sensitivities and allergies. | Unlike animal farming, veggie soft gel ingredients do not require the destruction of animal habitats, often causing large-scale deforestation. Sea weed farming absorbs carbon dioxide (reducing the pH of the ocean) making it more habitable for marine life. |
| Many plant-based soft gels are made from non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) ingredients. | Livestock farming leads to the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Avoiding animal agriculture lowers the carbon footprint. Soft gel encapsulation processes for veggie soft gels often uses less energy than animal-gelatin based ones. |
| Key ingredients in eco-friendly soft gels, such as tapioca starch and seaweed extracts, are easier to digest. They help improve nutrient absorption and reduce gastrointestinal irritation, making them ideal for people with dietary restrictions. | Many plant-based soft gels break down more easily, reducing the risk of environmental pollution. Plant-based soft gel manufacturers also find it easier to use eco-friendly packaging options. |
| Plant-based soft gels dissolve easily in the digestive system, enabling the rapid release active ingredients inside the capsule. |
Challenges and Innovations in Plant-Based Softgel Manufacturing
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Despite all the benefits of gelatin capsule alternatives, manufacturers face a few challenges. However, I highlight some of the innovations to counter such challenges.
Material Properties and Shell Formation
Traditional gelatin has unique properties that makes it ideal for soft gels for forming a strong, flexible, and durable shell. However, achieving a similar texture and consistency with plant-based soft gels can be challenging.
Finding the right veggie soft gel formula to match gelatin’s resilience is impossible. Variances in the physical properties of gelatin capsule alternatives often give inconsistent shell thickness and texture. The result is shell leakages, breakages or uneven encapsulation.
Innovation
Manufacturers have developed improved gelling agents that provide greater strength and stability. Modified starches have increased elasticity and water solubility. The manufacturers also combine different plant-based gelling agents, such as starches and seaweeds, to improve the mechanical flexibility of the soft gels.
Equipment
Most of the soft gel production equipment is for gelatin-based soft gels. Manufacturers find it challenging to use the same or modify existing equipment to use with plant-based soft gels. It often requires a significant investment.
Due to longer drying times, lower temperatures, and additional processing times, veggie soft gel production rates are slower. Manufacturers might find it challenging to achieve production efficiency and scalability.
Innovation
Some manufacturers such as Wuxi Hailis Biotech have developed specialized equipment for eco-friendly soft gels. The equipment includes modified rotary die machines, tailored drying systems, and improved encapsulation equipment.
Other manufacturers can modify the traditional gelatin-based soft gel manufacturing equipment to handle plant-based formulations, reducing the need for completely new production lines.
Maintaining Shelf Life
Seaweed and tapioca starch have different moisture-retention properties compared to gelatin soft gels. Managing moisture balance is essential to prevent shells from drying out or becoming brittle.
It is challenging to ensure long-term stability for plant-based soft gels, especially under adverse environmental conditions such as high humidity.
Innovation
The emergence of new technologies in drying and dehumidification has helped to address moisture management. These systems control the drying conditions, helping to retain moisture while preventing cracking and hardening.
Drying techniques such as inline or continuous drying, can shorten the production times, while preserving the integrity of the plant-based soft gels.
Ingredient Compatibility
Manufacturers find it challenging to come up with the right formulation of plant-based soft gel shells to encapsulate both oil and water-based ingredients. Getting a veggie soft gel capsule that can handle these different formulations without reacting or breaking is a challenge.
Some of the plant-based materials can react or mix with the active ingredients in the soft gels. The potency and stability of the encapsulated ingredients are at risk.
Innovation
It is now possible to encapsulate sensitive ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids, without compromising their stability. Innovations in barrier coatings have improved the ability of veggie soft gels to protect against external factors such as moisture and oxygen.
Conclusion
The shift towards plant-based soft gels reflect the growing demand for sustainable, ethical, and health concious alternatives. Plant-based soft gels are becoming a key innovation in the market, aligning with broader plant-based supplement trends.
At Wuxi Hailis Biotech we offer high quality vegetable soft gel raw materials. Contact us for any modifications on your existing soft gel production line.