HPMC (plant-based) capsules fit vegan, clean-label and moisture-sensitive fills with 2–8% capsule moisture; gelatin remains the cheapest classic but carries animal-origin and 13–16% moisture constraints; second-generation starch capsules close the cost gap at roughly 50% lower material cost than HPMC with comparable machine performance.
The three materials compared
- Gelatin: lowest material cost, widest machine compatibility — but animal-origin, preservative and EO-residue concerns, and high moisture that moves water to or from hygroscopic fills.
- HPMC (vegetable): plant fiber, no cross-linking risk, stable at low moisture — the mainstream choice for vegan and pharma lines; filling behavior is proven on whole-servo lines.
- Starch (2nd generation): plant-based with ~50% lower material cost than HPMC and no algae supply dependency — the emerging second-generation vegetable capsule.
Match by fill, not by fashion
- Hygroscopic or probiotic fills: low-moisture HPMC or starch (≤3% capsule moisture available).
- Oil and liquid fills: liquid-filled vegetable capsules.
- Herbal extracts: plant capsules avoid animal-origin labeling entirely.
FAQ
What is the best alternative to gelatin capsules?
HPMC vegetable capsules — plant-based, no cross-linking, stable with moisture-sensitive fills; where cost is decisive, second-generation starch capsules deliver ~50% material-cost savings with comparable filling performance.
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