Marine vs Bovine Collagen: Source, Function & Which One’s Right for You

Collagen is a structural protein made up of amino acids that supports skin, joints, bones, and connective tissue. The most common supplement forms are derived from two sources:

Bovine (cow-derived)
Marine (fish-derived)

Each has different composition, absorption, price point, and market perception — and each suits different types of products and brands.

White label, unflavored collagen

Collagen under white label from BF-EssE

Marine collagen: what is it?

Fish scales and skin, usually from pollock, tilapia, or cod, are used to extract marine collagen. The most prevalent type of collagen in human skin, Type I collagen, is abundant in it.

Benefits: Absorbs up to 1.5 times quicker than bovine and has high bioavailability.
Excellent for halal or pescatarian customers
Taste profile that is light and neutral (when properly processed)

Factors to consider: More costly than bovine

May cause allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to fish.
Must adhere to stringent EU safety and traceability regulations.

Bovine collagen: what is it?

Type I and Type III collagen, which are essential for the skin, joints, and intestinal lining, are found in cowhide and bones, which are used to make bovine collagen.

Advantages:
Cost-effective and widely available
Packed with Type III, which promotes stomach healing and skin suppleness
Perfect for powders, capsules, and sachets, and heat-stable
Frequently offered by halal-certified or grass-fed providers.

Considering: Greater molecular weight compared to marine

Reduced absorption speed
Hight molecular weight
Pescatarian and vegan audiences might not find it appealing.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Marine Collagen	Bovine Collagen
Source	Fish skin/scales	Cow hide/bones
Types of collagen	Type I only	Type I & III
Absorption	Higher	Moderate
Target audience	Beauty, pescatarian	Beauty + joint support
Taste/smell	Very neutral (if pure)	Slightly more noticeable
Price	Higher	More affordable
Regulatory notes (EU)	Approved, traceable	Approved, widely used

What’s Best for Your Brand?

Choose marine collagen if your product is:

Beauty or skin-focused
Premium positioned
Aimed at pescatarian or flexitarian consumers

Choose bovine collagen if:

You're looking for a highly recognized, reasonably priced base.
You're mixing with additional active ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid or vitamin C.
You want sachets or powders with joint and gastrointestinal placement.

Both can be made in capsules, jars, or flavored drinks, and both can be hydrolyzed into peptides for improved absorption.

Formats We Can Produce

At BF-EssE, we can develop your custom collagen product in:

All are available flavored or unflavored, natural or colored.
Want your supplement pink, red, green, or gold? We use safe, EU-compliant colorants (natural or synthetic) to match your product vision and branding.

Flavors You Can Choose:

We stock over 12 high-quality flavors — perfect for beauty, wellness, or fitness branding.
Best sellers:

Hibiscus
Peach
Vanilla

Also available:

Chocolate
Pineapple
Green Apple
Blackсurrant
Green Tea
...and more. Custom blends on request.

Capsules

Sachets

Pouch bags

Labeling & Health Claims: What You Need to Know

If you want to market collagen as “for skin,” “for beauty,” or “for collagen formation”, you’ll need to follow EU regulations for health claims.
Collagen itself doesn’t have approved health claims in the EU.
But there’s a smart way to do it:
Add Vitamin C — and you can use this approved claim:
“Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, bones, and cartilage.”
See: Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 — Health Claims
Or read our food supplement detailed regulatory breakdown: Regulatory Guide: Collagen & Labeling

Want to Learn More?

Want to explore formats, flavors, and legal tips for white-label collagen?
Visit our full guide on collagen supplement manufacturing
We break down: