The fisheries and aquaculture sector generates millions of tonnes of by-products each year, including skin, scales, and bones, many of which go underutilised. Globally, up to two-thirds of caught fish (by weight) is discarded as waste, posing both economic and environmental challenges. In Europe, the Common Fisheries Policy now calls for making the best possible use of captured biomass and drastically reducing discards.
ONE EARTH supports these objectives by exploiting polypeptides, such as collagen peptides, from fish scales, turning what was once considered “fish waste” into valuable ingredients for nutraceuticals and cosmetics. Fish collagen is a sought-after component in beauty creams and dietary supplements, recognised for its benefits to skin, hair, and joint health. Research shows that fish by-products are rich in collagen and bioactive peptides with applications in cosmetics and biomedicine.
Through chemical, enzymatic or microbial processing, fish scales can be transformed into high-quality polypeptides hydrolysates, reducing waste. This circular approach taps into the “blue bioeconomy” and aligns with EU initiatives for marine waste reuse.
It also reflects consumer demand for sustainable and marine-based cosmetics. By demonstrating how blue biomass can be turned into “blue beauty” products, ONE EARTH shows that a more sustainable future can be both environmentally responsible and economically rewarding.