Stratum Nutrition’s (Carthage, MO) NEM and Ovolux are natural ingredients derived from upcycled eggshell membrane collagen. For decades this part of the egg was largely treated as waste despite naturally containing collagen, glycosaminoglycans and other bioactive compounds.

“What makes NEM and Ovolux unique is how we’ve built a proprietary process around preserving what nature already created,” said Jacqueline Rizo, public relations lead at Stratum.

Rather than aggressively hydrolyzing the material, the process maintains the native structure of the eggshell membrane. Preserving the integrity of the collagen matrix supports biological activity while aligning with consumer expectations for minimally processed, food-derived ingredients. Fewer processing steps also mean lower energy inputs and reduced chemical use.

The finished ingredients are standardized, highly traceable and supported by clinical research. NEM demonstrates benefits for joint comfort, stiffness, and mobility in as little as seven to 10 days and as soon as one day for improved relief from exercise-induced joint pain.

“NEM and Ovolux are really a story of seeing value where others didn’t. Eggshell membrane has always been there, but it took a different way of thinking to recognize its potential and then develop scalable, science-backed ingredients from it,” Rizo said.

Stratum was always focused on doing this the right way, Rizo added. This meant creating a process that could consistently deliver high-quality ingredients while staying true to sustainability principles. Bu working within the existing egg supply chain, Stratum can upcycle a material at scale without adding strain on resources.

NEM is backed by a strong body of clinical research supporting joint health and Ovolux builds on the same foundational matrix with a focus on skin health and beauty-from-within applications. Both ingredients demonstrate how one upcycled source can deliver targeted benefits across multiple health categories, Rizo explained.

“As consumers and brands look for solutions that deliver both performance and purpose, NEM and Ovolux sit at that intersection. They show that you don’t have to choose between sustainability and efficacy. When done right, the two go hand in hand,” Rizo said.

For more information, visit www.stratumnutrition.com.

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