DolCas Biotech, LLC, shares its zero-waste goal for the company’s entire portfolio of potent branded nutraceutical ingredients. The company declared its commitment to accelerate a full-sustainability strategy centred on the upcycling of typically discarded —yet highly valuable —raw materials. It will further ally this endeavour with its ongoing clean-label initiatives to maintain full transparency and traceability of its product line.
According to Euromonitor International’s “Sustainability Survey 2019,” 66% of nutraceutical industry professionals believe that sustainability initiatives are critical to success. Innova Market Insights’ consumer research indicates that consumer expectations around sustainability are higher than ever, pushing companies to prioritise eco-efficiency, especially when it comes to reducing food and plastic waste.
While the market for clean-label products has grown substantially in recent years, the company offers a fresh perspective, one that focusses on clinically-studied, sustainably-sourced, “drum-to-hopper” ingredients that are clean-label by design. As early adopters, it understands all the nuances of formulating for this demand, and continually seeks to collaborate with partners that source their ingredients locally, and with commitment to the same environmental vision.
Upcycling creates potent new products
The company’s TruOliv polyphenol extract is one example of such next-gen sustainability in action. The formulation is composed of Moroccan-grown olive leaves and whole fruit, including the skin and flesh. The olive pomace, or remaining mass of pits, branches, and unused fruits, has been ingeniously upcycled into smoke-free, natural charcoal briquettes for a completely zero-waste process. The solvent-free, USDA, EU and China-certified organic extract and its charcoal byproduct are parts of a vertically integrated operation that is regenerative, not just sustainable.
“The polyphenol profile is a perfect example of this,” explains Dr Shavon Jackson-Michel, director of medical & scientific affairs for DolCas. “The sun scorched, hostile desert environment is an incubator for the accelerated production of polyphenols, which is key in generating TruOliv’s concentrated actives profile.”
The company’s proprietary extraction method delivers more than 3% of hydroxytyrosol and 7% oleuropein, without the use of solvents or heat. It provides the polyphenol synergism of traditionally consumed olive oils, yielding a high concentration of clinical bioactives equal to 20 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, all in a 1g dose.
“As with many trends that develop from shared agendas, the uncompromising interest in sustainability and health-awareness is expected to energise the growth trajectory for clean-label products,” says K G Rao, president of DolCas. “The nutraceuticals industry faces the unique challenge of delivering clinically efficacious end-products that merge nutrition with pharmaceutical precision, without concessions for environmentally unfriendly processes or synthetic ingredients.”
The company’s Bergacyn liver support complex is made with adherence to the same values. It is a patented, clean-label nutraceutical powerhouse composition of bergamot (Citrus bergamia) fruit polyphenols, fibre,and wild-crafted artichoke thistle leaf (Cynara cardunculus sylvestris). Bergamot juice and pulp serve as upcycled source materials to provide the polyphenols and fibre in Bergacyn.
“The peel of the bergamot fruit has traditionally been prized for the extract of its essential oil for use in the perfume industry,” explains Jackson-Michel. “The fruit itself – pulp and juice included —were considered nothing more than waste. In fact, it’s been reported that it takes roughly 100 bergamot fruits to produce a mere three ounces of essential oil. This constitutes substantial loss. Moreover, the rich polyphenols in bergamot, if not properly discarded, can lead to soil contamination.”
The artichoke component of the Bergacyn blend is an ancient variety, endemic to the Calabria region of Italy, where it often is seen growing along the roadside as a weed and largely regarded as not commercially viable. An innovative extraction process is applied to these native botanicals, resulting in a completely solvent-free, richly potent, clinically studied bioactive compound with multi-targeted use. Bergacyn production reinvests these underutilised, yet highly valuable, cast-offs, delivering an excipient-free clean-label fill for capsules.
MoriKol collagen is another of the company’s nutraceutical sustainably sourced, derived from otherwise discarded fish remnants. Fish collagen has proven bioavailability benefits that surpass those of bovine collagen. MoriKol takes it a step further by delivering 15% of tripeptides — the skin-cell ready actives — that are more efficiently absorbed. They not only support the building of collagen by stimulating its growth, but also protect the skin from UV-damage at a low dose.
Curcugen is the company’s 50% concentrated full spectrum highly bioavailable curcuminoid ingredient that conforms to both zero-waste and eco-friendly initiatives. The sustainably sourced, agro-fueled manufacturing process generates a clean, food-grade byproduct that is upcycled into a base ingredient for culinary use. The company’s sustainability efforts do not begin and end with zero biomatter waste. It has committed to reduced plastic use by shipping Curcugen in recyclable waxed, cardboard drums.
“During our 13 years in business, we recognised that when we honour the values of quality, purity, and sustainability, positioning our products becomes easier because we know with assurance that we aren’t shortchanging the most important person in this chain – the consumer,” concludes Jackson- Michel. The majority of the company’s marketed ingredients carry ISO and HAACP seals of quality and are certified kosher and halal.