Cattle raised on farms causing deforestation in Brazil are used to produce collagen, an active ingredient in health supplements, at the center of the global wellness craze.
The booming collagen industry is worth an estimated $4B.
Collagen can be extracted from fish, pigs, and cattle and is claimed to improve hair, skin, nails, and joints, slowing aging.
- An investigation by the Guardian, Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Center for Climate Crime Analysis (CCCA), ITV, and O Joio e O Trigo in Brazil found that cattle raised on farms causing deforestation are serving international collagen supply chains, including Nestle-owned Vital Proteins.
- Most research about collagen is sponsored by the industry or scientists affiliated with it, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.
- Unlike beef, soy, and palm oil, collagen is not covered by due diligence legislation designed to tackle deforestation in the EU and U.K.
- Demand for beef, leather, and collagen has seen more and more forests cleared and replaced by pasture, often seized illegally.
- Most livestock-driven deforestation reportedly can be attributed to companies' indirect suppliers.
