In conversation with SIAL Daily, Raw Kim, CEO of RAWGA, the Korean producer of plant-based alternatives, outlines the factors that set the company’s vegetable collagen from hibiscus, VC-H1, apart from both animal-based products and other vegan options

RAWGA is involved in every step of the process that goes into its vegan collagen ingredient, from growing to extraction, as well as producing its own line of products under its own PLANT brand.

What can you tell us about your product, VC-H1, winner of the SIAL Innovation prize for intermediate food products in 2022?
VC-H1, our vegetable collagen from hibiscus ingredient, is the world’s first genuine vegan collagen that utilises extraction technology to derive glycoproteins from plant cell walls. Traditional animal-based collagen has faced challenges relating to the untransparency of how animals are fed and slaughtered, diseases, its characteristic odour and taste, and its unsuitability for over 2 billion people, including Muslims and vegans. VC-H1 is a fresh alternative for the $10 billion animal collagen market. By extracting low-molecular collagen (363 Da) with a high antioxidant content from organic hibiscus, VC-H1 offers a highly absorbable and vegan-friendly solution that addresses the limitations of animal-based collagen.

What differentiates VC-H1 from other vegan collagen products?
In 2022, most vegan collagen companies were introducing products that “mould” collagen using blending techniques with free-form amino acids. VC-H1, however, is truly innovative because we extract the hydroxyproline directly from plants. Through pre-clinical studies, we have proven that it is indeed collagen and that it has the same efficacy as traditional collagen products. By the end of 2024, we will see the results of a four-year clinical trial, and from next year onwards, we expect to further differentiate ourselves not only from animal-based collagen but also from the moulded variety.

How does RAWGA produce VC-H1?
We are involved in every step of the process, from cultivating the plant that provides the collagen, extracting VC-H1, producing the final product, and ensuring that the end consumer enjoys it. The hibiscus used for VC-H1 is grown in a 264 ha organic valley in Laos, and we hold the exclusive patented technology to extract the collagen in powder at our facility in Korea. We supply this raw material to inner beauty companies, and we also market it under our own brand, PLANT. One of the standout features of VC-H1 is that, when incorporated into products, it is colourless, odourless, and tasteless, eliminating the need for any artificial additives typically required to mask the downsides of animal-based collagen.

What innovations are you bringing to SIAL Paris 2024?
We are showcasing our new ingredient, organic plant-based collagen, along with five plant-based collagen products at SIAL Paris this year. The organic plant-based collagen ingredient, a SIAL Innovation 2024 selection, builds on the ingredient we originally presented in 2022 by taking it a step further and making all of its components entirely organic.

A full line of inner beauty products

In addition to its new organic plant-based collagen, at SIAL Paris 2024 RAWGA is also introducing four inner beauty products under its PLANT brand: Vegan Biotin for skin and hair, Vegan Probiotics for gut health, Vegan Vitamin D to support skin immunity, and Vegan Kombucha for digestion and hydration. “Our plant-based collagen products are designed with natural ingredients and come in formats that cater to different consumer preferences,” Mr Kim asserts. Presented in a convenient easy-cut sticks for simple storage and portability, with 100% natural flavouring from ingredients like grape, yuzu, and lemon, RAWGA’s plant-based collagen products are available as jellies and liquids. Additionally, the brand is introducing its Plant Collagen Booster Zero beverage, which has been selected for SIAL Innovation 2024. This peach-flavoured zero-calorie drink includes collagen, probiotics, zinc, niacinamide, Vitamin B6, and calcium pantothenate.

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