SIRIO Pharma (SIRIO), the global nutraceutical contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), will launch its range of next generation plant-based softgels in Europe, including products utilising its newly created gellan gum technology, at Vitafoods Europe (10-12 May in Geneva: booth I40).
The innovation will sit under the company’s Plantegrity range – the "plant-based softgels with a purpose" – which, in Europe, includes SIRIO’s existing carrageenan plant-based softgels and provides greater options for nutraceutical brands.
SIRIO’s next generation gellan gum softgel uses a more sustainable source material and is being launched in response to growing customer demand, as well as contributing to the company’s wider efforts to make nutraceutical production greener, more ethical and environmentally sustainable.
Gellan gum is produced via a natural fermentation process, which means it has a lower environmental impact than other products. A further benefit is that its high concentration of polysaccharides in the shell avoids cross-linking with other ingredients, providing a robust oxygen barrier that ensures freshness of the nutrients.
For more than 15 years, SIRIO has been a pioneer in the development of vegetarian softgels and was one of the first CDMOs to launch capsules made of carrageenan derived from algae. SIRIO continued to work on plant-based alternatives, which led to the new, proprietary gellan gum technology. These innovative Plantegrity softgels have been extensively tested, maintain a high stability and are ready for market.
“We are doing this not only to meet the needs of environmentally conscious consumers, but because we believe in the positive role we can play in helping to innovate so that we can live more sustainably. This new product is just one component of our CSR plan to improve everything from waste materials to power consumption and even the wider impact we have in the local communities we work with."
"Now, customers can choose between two kinds of vegan capsules with and without carrageenan,” commented Senior Product Manager, Kirstin Völz, at SIRIO Europe.
The softgels are available to be customised, with clean label options providing consumers plant-based, gluten-free, non-GMO and sugar-free nutraceuticals.
The gellan gum can encapsulate both single ingredient and complex formulas – from suspensions (such as β-Carotene, calcium + vitamin D) to pure oil products (EPO, CLA, linseed oil, fish oil, DHA algal oil, vitamin E, phospholipids, phosphatidylserine, vitamin D, etc.).
Additionally, there is also the flexibility to have fill weights from just 0.15 to 1.3 g, and the softgels are available inter alia in oval and oblong shapes. All Plantegrity softgels are manufactured in compliance with c-GMP, FDA, IFS, BRC and TGA guidelines.
“This naturally fermented, polysaccharide softgel is a big breakthrough. It has been specifically developed for ethically mission-driven brands,seeking sustainably sourced plant-based softgels,” added Völz.