In recent years, as consumer awareness of health and environmental protection has grown, starch capsules, a natural and biodegradable excipient, are gradually replacing traditional gelatin capsules and becoming a new favorite in the pharmaceutical and health supplement industries. Industry data indicates that the global starch capsule market is growing at an annual rate of over 10%, with the market size projected to exceed $500 million by 2028.
Starch capsules, primarily made from plant starches such as cassava, corn, peas, and potatoes, offer the advantages of being free from animal sources, allergens, and genetically modified organisms. These capsules meet the needs of vegetarians and individuals with specific religious beliefs. Moreover, compared to traditional gelatin capsules, starch capsules are more biodegradable in natural environments, aligning with global trends towards 'plastic limitation' and green packaging.
According to Market Research Future, Europe and the United States account for the majority of the starch capsule market due to strict environmental regulations and strong consumer health awareness, while the Asia-Pacific region is seeing rapid growth in demand as the pharmaceutical industry upgrades.
In the early days, starch capsules were limited in application due to their low mechanical strength and tendency to crack. However, recent advancements in modified starch technologies (such as hydroxypropyl starch and cross-linked starch) and process optimization (such as multi-layer composite structures and adjustments in plasticizer ratios) have significantly improved their stability and solubility. Some companies have also developed heat-resistant and moisture-proof starch capsules, expanding their applications in tropical regions and high-humidity environments.
Domestic enterprises such as Zhejiang Liaoyuan Technology Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. have set up starch capsule production lines and accelerated overseas certification to seize the international market. In addition to traditional medicines, starch capsules have shown outstanding performance in health products and functional foods. For example, in probiotic products, the low moisture activity of starch capsules can improve the preservation rate of live bacteria.
Despite its promising prospects, starch capsules still face the bottleneck of high technical requirements and insufficient production capacity. Industry experts point out that with large-scale production and technological iteration, the starch capsule industry is entering a period of rapid development. Enterprises need to accelerate technological breakthroughs and market education to seize the opportunity of this blue ocean market.