Where Kollo's marine collagen comes from: an honest sourcing and sustainability guide
Collagen supplements are everywhere, but very few brands are transparent about exactly where their collagen comes from, how it's processed, or what sustainability standards it meets. This matters because "marine collagen" isn't a single ingredient — different products use different fish, different sourcing practices, and different quality standards. This article walks through exactly where Kollo's marine collagen originates, the certifications it carries, and how we think about sourcing honestly.
What marine collagen actually is
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the animal kingdom. Marine collagen specifically refers to collagen sourced from fish — most commonly from fish skins, which are naturally rich in Type I collagen (the same collagen type that makes up most of your body's connective tissue, including skin, bones, and tendons).
Marine collagen supplements go through a process called hydrolysis, which breaks the large collagen protein into smaller peptides that are easier to absorb. Naticol® 4000 is hydrolysed to a low molecular weight (around 4000 Daltons), which is what makes it mix easily into liquid or dissolve into water. Kollo delivers 10,000mg of these hydrolysed marine collagen peptides per serving across all three of its marine collagen formats.
Kollo's specific source: Naticol® by Weishardt
The French collagen producer we chose — and why
Weishardt is a family-owned French company founded in 1839 — one of the oldest and most respected producers of gelatine and collagen peptides in the world. Naticol® is their flagship range of marine collagen peptides, and it's what goes into every sachet of Kollo.
Why we picked Weishardt: long-established quality track record, transparent sourcing, dual sustainability certification, and complete supply chain traceability. When we were formulating Kollo, we wanted to work with an ingredient supplier we could publicly stand behind — not the cheapest bulk marine collagen we could source.
Quality certifications Weishardt holds: ISO 9001 (quality management), FSSC 22000 (food safety), Friend of the Sea®, and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
The two sustainability certifications behind Kollo
Friend of the Sea® Certification
🌊 SUSTAINABILITYFriend of the Sea® (FOS) is a leading international certification standard for products that respect and protect the marine environment. Certified products must:
- Originate from sustainably managed fisheries or aquaculture
- Not use species listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List
- Meet strict requirements for environmental stewardship, circular economy principles, and social accountability
Weishardt became the first fish collagen producer in the world to obtain FOS certification in 2020. Kollo announced this certification for our Naticol® supply in our earlier blog post.
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Certification
🐟 WILD FISHERIESThe MSC is the world's most widely recognised certification for sustainable wild-caught fisheries. MSC certification ensures fish comes from well-managed fisheries with:
- Sustainable fish stocks
- Minimised environmental impact
- Effective fishery management systems
Naticol® is dual-certified by both FOS and MSC — a level of sustainability documentation that's unusual in the collagen category.
The circular economy story — fish skins that would otherwise be waste
One aspect of Naticol® worth understanding: the fish skins used for marine collagen production are by-products of the fishing industry. When fish are processed for food, the fillets are separated from the skins. Traditionally, the skins would either be discarded or used for low-value applications.
By transforming these skins into high-purity marine collagen peptides, Naticol® is using resources that already exist rather than driving additional fishing. No fish are caught specifically to make Naticol® — it's a genuine example of circular economy principles in the supplement industry. This is one of the reasons marine collagen has a lower environmental footprint than some other collagen sources.
How Naticol® is actually made
The extraction and processing of Naticol® uses enzymatic methods — enzymes break down the collagen protein into smaller peptides that are easy to absorb. The process is validated to preserve the purity and integrity of the collagen while ensuring food safety through appropriate sterilisation, filtration, and demineralisation steps. Weishardt's ISO 9001 and FSSC 22000 certifications reflect this rigorous quality management.
Are all collagen peptides marine?
No — collagen peptides come from several different animal sources, each with legitimate uses. Rather than disparaging any category, here's the honest picture of the options available:
Marine collagen (from fish)
Type I predominantly. Sourced from fish skins as a by-product of fishing/aquaculture. Kollo uses Naticol® 4000. Suitable for pescatarian diets. Not suitable for anyone with fish allergy, or for vegetarians or vegans. Sustainability advantage: uses by-products, generally lower environmental footprint than land-animal collagen.
Bovine collagen (from cows)
Mix of Type I and Type III. Sourced from hides and bones as a by-product of the beef industry. Legitimate ingredient used by many reputable supplement brands. Not suitable for Hindu customers or others avoiding beef for religious, ethical, or environmental reasons.
Porcine collagen (from pigs)
Mix of Type I and Type III. Sourced from pig hides. Legitimate ingredient. Not suitable for Muslim, Jewish, or many other customers who don't consume pork.
Chicken collagen
Typically Type II. Sourced from chicken cartilage. Different research profile from Type I — often used specifically in joint-focused supplements at lower doses (e.g. UC-II undenatured collagen). Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans, or those avoiding poultry.
"Vegan collagen" — a common myth
No true vegan collagen exists — collagen is only produced by animals. Products marketed as "vegan collagen" are actually collagen boosters: amino acids (glycine, proline, lysine) and cofactors (vitamin C, copper, zinc) that support your body's own collagen production. Not the same as taking collagen peptides themselves.
What actually matters when choosing marine collagen
- Dose per serving — clinical research uses doses in the 2.5-15g range, with 10g common in studies showing measurable skin outcomes over 8-12 weeks
- Properly hydrolysed peptides — the word "hydrolysed" on the label matters more than the format (liquid vs powder)
- Third-party quality testing — Informed Choice or Informed Sport certifications verify what's on the label matches what's in the product
- Sustainability certifications — Friend of the Sea and MSC are the recognised standards for marine sourcing
- Transparent labelling — clear declared doses of every active ingredient, not proprietary blends
- Traceable supply chain — knowing which producer makes the collagen you're buying (in Kollo's case: Weishardt's Naticol® 4000)
For a comprehensive buyer's guide, see our honest guide to buying collagen supplements.
What Kollo marine collagen may support
Marine collagen has genuine research supporting:
- Skin outcomes — may support skin elasticity, hydration, and appearance of fine lines over 8-12 weeks of consistent daily use
- Joint comfort — emerging evidence at 12+ weeks
- Hair and nail structure — supported by many customer experiences and some clinical research
All three Kollo marine collagen formats include 80mg vitamin C (100% NRV), which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, blood vessels, bones, cartilage, gums, and teeth (an EU-authorised health claim). Kollo Liquid additionally contains 100% NRV of B1, B5, B6, B12, and 178mg l-lysine.
Kollo's own sustainability efforts
Beyond choosing a certified sustainable collagen source, Kollo emphasises sustainability across our operations:
- Cardboard packaging sealed with paper tape — kerbside recyclable
- Powder pouch format — produces the least packaging waste per serving in our range
- Subscription model — reduces packaging and shipping waste versus repeated one-off orders
Explore the Kollo range
Kollo Premium Liquid Marine Collagen →
Ready-to-drink tropical shot. 10,000mg Naticol® 4000 marine collagen + vitamin C + B vitamins (B1, B5, B6, B12) + l-lysine.
Kollo Premium Marine Collagen Powder Sachets →
Near-tasteless powder. 10,000mg Naticol® marine collagen + vitamin C only. Mixes into any drink.
Kollo Premium Marine Collagen Powder Pouch →
Refillable pouch. Same clean formula as the sachets. Best cost per serving and lowest packaging waste in the range.
Kollo Vitamin D3 + K2 Oral Spray →
High-strength vitamin D3 (4000 IU) + K2 (MK-7). For those specifically wanting vitamin D and bone support.
Menopause food supplement with 12 active ingredients. Vegan-friendly (Vegan Society registered). If you're on HRT, please speak to your GP first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the fish in Kollo's marine collagen come from?
Kollo uses Naticol® 4000 marine collagen produced by Weishardt, a French family-owned company founded in 1839. Naticol® is sourced from fish skins — a by-product of the fishing industry that would otherwise be waste. Weishardt uses only non-endangered fish species (a requirement of both its Friend of the Sea and MSC certifications) and diversifies species across its supply base for sustainability.
Is Kollo's marine collagen sustainable?
Naticol® is dual-certified by both Friend of the Sea® and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) — two of the most recognised sustainability certifications for marine products worldwide. Weishardt was the first fish collagen producer in the world to obtain FOS certification, in 2020. The circular economy approach (using fish skins that would otherwise be waste) is a genuine sustainability advantage of marine collagen from certified suppliers.
Are the fish in Kollo endangered species?
No. Both Friend of the Sea and MSC certifications require that certified products do not use species listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Weishardt diversifies fish species across its supplier base as part of its sustainability approach.
What type of collagen is in Kollo?
Kollo's marine collagen (Naticol® 4000) is predominantly Type I collagen — the most abundant collagen in the human body, found in skin, bone, tendon, and other connective tissues. Type I has the strongest research base for supporting skin outcomes and has emerging evidence for joint comfort.
Is marine collagen more sustainable than bovine or porcine?
Marine collagen from certified sustainable sources (like Naticol®) generally has a lower environmental footprint than land-animal collagen, particularly because it uses by-products of the fishing industry (fish skins) that would otherwise be waste. That said, well-managed bovine and porcine collagen production also has legitimate sustainability positions — the details depend on the specific supplier. What matters is verifiable certifications rather than category assumptions.
Are fish killed specifically to make Kollo's marine collagen?
No. Naticol® is made from fish skins that are by-products of the fishing industry — separated from fillets during processing, and used as raw materials for collagen production. This is one of the reasons marine collagen from Naticol® is a circular economy example: it makes use of resources that would otherwise be waste.
Can I take Kollo if I'm pescatarian?
Yes — Kollo's marine collagen products are suitable for pescatarian diets. They contain fish and are not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. If you're vegan or vegetarian, Kollo Balance+ (a menopause supplement) is registered with The Vegan Society.
Is there a difference in quality between marine collagen brands?
Yes, significant differences. Not all marine collagen suppliers use certified sustainable sources or transparent supply chains. When comparing products, look for: identifiable branded collagen ingredient (like Naticol®), sustainability certifications (Friend of the Sea, MSC), quality certifications (ISO 9001, FSSC 22000), third-party testing (Informed Choice, Informed Sport), clear declared dose per serving, and traceable supply chain.
Kollo Health was co-founded by Jenni Falconer — TV presenter, Smooth Radio breakfast host, ten-time London Marathon runner and host of the RunPod podcast. Read her story and why she created Kollo.
