Collagen Shots: European Supplement Contract Manufacturing Using Quality Ingredients
Collagen has become a familiar ingredient across beauty, wellness and active-lifestyle supplements. But developing a successful collagen shot involves much more than selecting a collagen powder and putting it into a bottle. Ingredient quality, formulation, sensory performance, stability, packaging, quality control and manufacturing consistency all need to work together.
Why collagen remains an opportunity for supplement brands
Collagen sits at the intersection of several established supplement categories, including beauty-from-within, healthy ageing, active lifestyle and general wellness. From a product-development perspective, collagen is also highly versatile, with applications ranging from powders and capsules to ready-to-drink liquids and concentrated formats.
Scientific research on oral collagen supplementation has produced encouraging findings, although the evidence is not uniform. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 randomised controlled trials involving 1,721 participants reported significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity with hydrolysed collagen supplementation, while also identifying limitations and potential biases in the available research.
More recent evidence illustrates why brands should interpret collagen research carefully. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 randomised controlled trials involving 1,474 participants reported significant effects when all studies were analysed together, but the results differed according to funding source and study quality. The authors concluded that the available evidence did not provide sufficient clinical support for using collagen supplements to prevent or treat skin ageing.
For supplement brands, this distinction matters. Ingredient research can inform product development, but scientific findings should not automatically be converted into broad consumer claims. In the European Union, the claims used on food supplements must also comply with the applicable nutrition and health-claim framework.
The opportunity is therefore not simply to launch another collagen product. It is to develop a product with a credible ingredient specification, appropriate formulation, attractive delivery format, reliable manufacturing process and compliant communication.
Source: 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of oral collagen supplementation
Source: 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of collagen supplements and skin ageing
Source: European Commission — Nutrition and Health Claims
What actually makes a supplement ingredient high quality?
The term “premium ingredient” is widely used in supplement marketing, but manufacturers and brands should be able to define quality in more concrete terms.
- Source and traceability: where does the raw material originate, and can its supply chain be documented?
- Specification: is there a clear technical specification covering identity, composition and relevant quality parameters?
- Purity: does the ingredient meet appropriate microbiological, chemical and contaminant specifications?
- Standardisation: where relevant, is the active component standardised to a defined level?
- Processing: how has the ingredient been extracted, purified, hydrolysed or otherwise processed?
- Solubility and sensory properties: can it perform properly in the intended dosage form without avoidable taste, odour or texture problems?
- Documentation: can the supplier provide appropriate Certificates of Analysis, specifications, allergen information, origin information and supporting technical documentation?
- Evidence: is there scientific evidence relevant to the actual ingredient, dose, population and intended application?
Ingredient quality should therefore be assessed through specifications, documentation, consistency and relevant evidence — not simply through marketing language.
Choosing the right collagen ingredient
Not all collagen ingredients are identical. Source, collagen type, degree of hydrolysis, peptide characteristics, purity, solubility and sensory profile can all influence how an ingredient behaves in a finished supplement.
For a liquid product, these technical characteristics become particularly important. A collagen ingredient may look attractive on paper but still create formulation challenges if it does not disperse appropriately, affects taste or odour, interacts with other ingredients, or behaves unpredictably during processing and storage.
Marine collagen is one option used by supplement brands, particularly in beauty-oriented formulations. Naticol® is one example of a marine collagen ingredient. According to the ingredient supplier, Naticol® is produced from fish skin using extraction followed by targeted enzymatic hydrolysis. The supplier describes the range as primarily Type I collagen peptides, with grades designed for applications including food supplements and beverages.
Naticol® also has grades designed for water solubility and neutral sensory characteristics, which can be relevant when developing ready-to-drink products. These properties are particularly important when the ingredient is intended to form part of a liquid supplement rather than a powder or capsule.
The wider lesson is more important than the individual ingredient brand: the collagen ingredient should be selected according to the finished product that the brand wants to manufacture.
Source: Naticol® — Marine collagen peptides
Source: Naticol® — Marine collagen peptides and production process
What does the evidence tell us about collagen ingredients?
A responsible product-development process distinguishes between evidence relating to an ingredient, evidence relating to a finished formulation, and authorised claims that can legally be communicated to consumers.
For example, a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical study published in 2016 evaluated three Type I fish collagen hydrolysates, including Naticol® ingredients. The study involved 60 women aged 46–69 years who consumed 5 g of collagen peptides daily for eight weeks. The researchers evaluated skin biomechanics, hydration and the appearance of crow’s-feet wrinkles.
The study reported improvements in several measured skin parameters. However, the study was conducted on specific collagen materials, at a specific dose and over a defined period. Its results should therefore be understood in that context rather than automatically applied to every collagen supplement or every finished formulation.
This is an important principle for supplement brands: evidence supporting an ingredient is not necessarily evidence supporting a particular finished product. Dose, ingredient specification, formulation, population and study design all matter.
Scientific evidence also does not automatically authorise a health claim in the European Union. Health claims used on food supplements are governed by Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 and the EU Register of Nutrition and Health Claims.
Source: Naticol® — Scientific studies and clinical evidence
Source: European Commission — EU Register of Health Claims
From ingredient to finished formulation
A strong ingredient can still result in a weak finished product if the formulation is not properly developed. This becomes particularly important when moving from a powder ingredient to a ready-to-drink liquid.
- Active concentration and serving size: the formulation needs to deliver the intended ingredients consistently.
- Solubility and dispersion: ingredients need to remain suitable for the chosen liquid system.
- pH and formulation compatibility: collagen, vitamins, botanicals, acids, flavours and other components may interact.
- Taste and odour: sensory performance is particularly important for products intended to be consumed directly.
- Microbiological stability: liquid products require appropriate controls and manufacturing procedures.
- Packaging compatibility: the container, closure and filling process need to be appropriate for the formula.
- Shelf life and storage: stability needs to be considered rather than assumed.
- Manufacturing repeatability: a successful laboratory sample must be capable of becoming a consistent commercial batch.
The formulation should therefore be developed around both the ingredient and the manufacturing process. A formula that works in a laboratory vessel still needs to perform when it is produced repeatedly at commercial scale.
Why contract manufacturing matters more than simply filling bottles
Professional supplement contract manufacturing is much broader than putting a finished formula into packaging. For an established or growing supplement brand, the manufacturing partner can become part of product development, sampling, scale-up and ongoing production.
- Product development: translating a product concept into a manufacturable formula.
- Ingredient sourcing: identifying suitable raw materials and technical specifications.
- Formulation: determining appropriate ratios, serving sizes and processing requirements.
- Sample and pilot development: checking whether the product works in the intended format before commercial production.
- Manufacturing scale-up: moving from development quantities to repeatable commercial batches.
- Quality control: applying defined specifications and appropriate testing.
- Packaging: coordinating packaging formats suitable for the product.
- Batch documentation and traceability: maintaining controlled records throughout production.
- Ongoing production: reproducing the agreed formula consistently as the brand grows.
For brands evaluating a manufacturing partner, this broader capability can be more important than the simple ability to fill and label a bottle.
Explore Sequoya’s supplement contract manufacturing services
Quality systems: GMP, HACCP and ISO 22000
For supplement brands, manufacturing certifications should not be treated as decorative logos. They form part of the framework used to control manufacturing practices and food-safety risks.
GMP — Good Manufacturing Practice
Good Manufacturing Practice provides a structured approach to consistent manufacturing, including hygiene, controlled procedures, documentation, personnel, equipment, process control and quality management. In practical terms, GMP supports the principle that a product should be manufactured consistently according to defined specifications.
HACCP — Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points
HACCP is a systematic food-safety approach that identifies potential hazards and establishes controls at relevant points in the production process.
ISO 22000 — Food Safety Management
ISO 22000 provides a broader food-safety management framework, bringing systematic food-safety controls and management processes together.
Sequoya’s current manufacturing information identifies European GMP Food Grade, HACCP and ISO 22000 among its manufacturing systems and certifications. Brands should nevertheless confirm the current certification scope and wording when evaluating a manufacturing partner or preparing product documentation.
Source: Sequoya Biotechnologies — Manufacturing Facilities
Quality control from raw material to finished product
A certificate alone does not guarantee that every individual product will be appropriate for a specific application. Brands should also understand how quality is managed throughout day-to-day manufacturing.
For a supplement manufacturer, the process can be considered as a connected chain:
Raw material specification → incoming controls → formulation → production → in-process controls → finished-product testing → batch documentation and release.
The objective is to maintain traceability and consistency throughout this chain. This becomes increasingly important as a brand moves from an initial launch to repeated commercial production and larger volumes.
When evaluating a contract manufacturer, useful questions include:
- What specifications are used for raw materials?
- What technical and quality documentation is available?
- What testing is performed?
- How are deviations handled?
- How is batch traceability maintained?
- How does a formula move from development to commercial scale?
- How are samples and pilot batches managed?
Why the manufacturing partner matters when a brand grows
A manufacturing partner that works for a first launch may not automatically be the right partner for the next stage of growth. Requirements can change as a supplement brand develops.
- Additional SKUs and complementary formulas
- New delivery formats
- Higher production volumes
- More frequent product development
- Multiple packaging configurations
- Greater supply-chain requirements
- More demanding quality and documentation requirements
- Expansion into additional markets
Manufacturer selection should therefore be based on more than price and minimum order quantity. Technical capability, quality systems, communication, development support and the ability to scale should all form part of the evaluation.
Read Sequoya’s guide to choosing a supplement manufacturing partner for growth
Collagen shots as an example of integrated product development
A collagen shot illustrates how ingredient selection, formulation and manufacturing come together in one product-development process.
- Ingredient selection: choose collagen according to source, specification, dosage, evidence and intended application.
- Formula development: determine whether additional vitamins, minerals or botanical ingredients fit the product concept and formulation requirements.
- Technical and sensory development: evaluate taste, solubility, pH, stability and compatibility.
- Packaging selection: select an appropriate shot or concentrate format and packaging system.
- Pilot production: confirm that the formulation can be produced reliably.
- Quality control and testing: verify that the finished product meets the agreed specification.
- Commercial manufacturing: move to repeatable production under controlled conditions.
- Finished private-label product: deliver a retail-ready product aligned with the brand’s positioning.
Sequoya currently offers a 25 ml ready-to-drink collagen shot format built around Naticol® fish collagen hydrolysate. The current formula contains 5,000 mg of Naticol® fish collagen hydrolysate per 25 ml shot, together with vitamin C, niacin, gotu kola extract, zinc, vitamin B5, inositol, biotin and selenium.
The current product is supplied as 20 × 25 ml ready-to-drink shots in white PET vials with white screw caps, individual labels and a display box. This is one example of how a defined ingredient concept can be developed into a ready-to-brand supplement format.
Explore Sequoya’s white-label collagen shots
Source: Sequoya Biotechnologies — White Label Collagen Shots
Why 25 ml collagen shots can make sense for brands
Ready-to-drink shots offer a different consumer experience from powders or capsules. A defined liquid serving removes the need for mixing and can make the product convenient for consumers who want a simple daily routine.
For brands, the format can also support a premium product proposition and create opportunities for a wider product family — for example, a ready-to-drink shot alongside a larger-volume collagen concentrate or complementary beauty and wellness products.
A liquid format should nevertheless be selected because it fits the product concept and consumer proposition, not because liquid is automatically superior to powder. Product performance still depends on formulation, ingredient quality, manufacturing controls and the finished product specification.
Liquid collagen concentrates and product-family development
Collagen shots are not the only liquid format available to brands. Larger-volume liquid collagen concentrates can provide a different serving concept and can sit alongside ready-to-drink shots within a broader product portfolio.
This can be particularly relevant for brands that want to develop multiple SKUs around one core ingredient category while offering different serving formats, pack sizes and consumer routines.
Sequoya’s current collagen portfolio includes both 25 ml collagen shots and liquid collagen concentrates, allowing brands to consider different liquid formats when developing a collagen range.
Read more about Sequoya’s liquid collagen shots and concentrates
Explore Sequoya’s liquid collagen concentrate format
What should brands ask a contract manufacturer?
Before selecting a collagen supplement manufacturer, brands should look beyond a product catalogue and ask how the supplier approaches development and production.
- Ingredients: Where are raw materials sourced? What specifications and documentation are available?
- Formulation: Can the manufacturer develop custom formulas and work with preferred ingredients?
- Quality: What GMP, HACCP and ISO systems are in place? What testing and batch-release procedures are used?
- Manufacturing: What formats and volumes can be produced? Can the supplier scale with the brand?
- Packaging: Can the manufacturer provide suitable primary and secondary packaging and finished private-label products?
- Documentation: What batch documentation and traceability are provided?
- Development: How are samples, pilot batches and commercial scale-up handled?
Choosing a European supplement manufacturing partner
For brands looking for a European collagen manufacturer or broader supplement contract manufacturing partner, the evaluation should go beyond price and minimum order quantity. Ingredient sourcing, formulation expertise, quality systems, production capability, documentation, communication and scalability all influence the finished product.
Sequoya Biotechnologies works with supplement brands on white-label and contract manufacturing across several supplement formats, including functional oils, collagen products and gummies. Its current portfolio includes collagen shots and liquid collagen concentrates, supported by product-development and manufacturing capabilities.
The objective is to keep product concept, ingredient selection, formulation and manufacturing connected, helping brands move from an initial idea towards a repeatable commercial product.
Explore Sequoya’s supplement contract manufacturing capabilities
Conclusion: quality ingredients need quality manufacturing
A successful collagen supplement is not created by the collagen ingredient alone. It is the result of several connected decisions: selecting an appropriate ingredient, designing a workable formulation, choosing the right delivery format, controlling the manufacturing process and working within a robust quality and food-safety system.
For supplement brands, the development process can be viewed as a connected chain: quality ingredient + well-designed formulation + appropriate format + controlled manufacturing + reliable quality systems + experienced manufacturing partner.
This integrated approach can help brands move from an attractive product concept to a repeatable commercial product. Whether the objective is a new collagen shot, liquid concentrate or a broader supplement range, the manufacturing partner should be able to support both product quality and the practical requirements of commercial production.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a collagen shot?
A collagen shot is a measured liquid serving of a collagen supplement, usually designed as a ready-to-drink format. The precise formula, collagen source and serving size depend on the product.
What should brands look for in a collagen ingredient?
Important considerations include source, collagen type, purity, processing, peptide characteristics, solubility, sensory properties, documentation, consistency and scientific evidence relevant to the ingredient and intended use.
Is marine collagen better than other collagen sources?
Not automatically. Marine, bovine and porcine collagen ingredients have different characteristics. Selection should be based on the intended application, technical specification, formulation requirements, sourcing and brand positioning.
What is the difference between GMP, HACCP and ISO 22000?
GMP focuses on controlled manufacturing practices, HACCP focuses on identifying and controlling food-safety hazards, and ISO 22000 provides a broader food-safety management framework.
Can a collagen manufacturer develop a custom formula?
The scope of formulation and product-development services varies between manufacturers. Brands should confirm whether the manufacturer can work with preferred ingredients, develop samples and scale the formula to commercial production.
Are collagen health claims automatically allowed in the EU?
No. Scientific evidence for an ingredient is not the same as an authorised consumer health claim. EU nutrition and health claims are subject to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 and the EU Register of Nutrition and Health Claims.