There’s Now Bug-Free Vegan Shellac Made From Corn

There's Now Bug-Free Vegan Shellac Made From Corn

FloZein Products produce a corn-based, vegan alternative to shellac called Zein.

Zein — which is more cost-effective than traditional shellac — has a broad range of applications from confectionary to pharmaceutical, and agricultural to biomedical. It is all-natural, clean label, vegan, Kosher, and halal. It is also gluten, lactose, sugar, and GMO-free.

FloZein — a subsidiary of Flo Chemical Corporation — is currently the only North American manufacturer of Zein and has been producing the corn-based protein since 1976.

The versatile vegan shellac has the ability to form an edible, odorless, tasteless, and hard coating. “It is a better coating than shellac (confectioners or pharmaceutical glaze) because FloZein Products coating solutions offer extended shelf-life, particularly under high-humidity and high-heat conditions,” says FloZein.

Zein is more environmentally-friendly than traditional shellac. Lac bugs, native to India and Thailand, naturally produce shellac, which is then commercially harvested.

Around 300,000 of the insect are needed to produce just 1 kilogram of shellac and the harvesting process almost always kills them. Many beauty products (such as nail polish), foods (like candy coatings), and medicines contain animal-based shellac.

“Flo Chemical Corporation seeks to establish and sustain a positive environmental legacy for current and for future generations,” adds FloZein. “The company is committed to minimizing its overall impact on the environment while encouraging and activating environmentally responsible behavior.”

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Demand For Vegan Cosmetics

Animal-based shellac is one of several animal derivatives commonly used in beauty products. However, Zein is an effective replacement.

The vegan shellac is water-resistant and can be used for effective moisture control. It can also act as an anti-clumping or bulking agent, a color sealant, and is known for increasing hair volume. Zein is also a natural alternative to synthetic microbeads.

Cruelty-free, vegan cosmetics with natural ingredients are increasingly popular with consumers.

Superdrug recently reported a 750 percent increase in the sales of its vegan cosmetics brand “B.” The health and beauty chain said that this boost was primarily a result of its successful 2019 Veganuary campaign.

Data by Grand View Research said that the global vegan cosmetics industry could reach $20.8 billion by 2025.