Opportunity: eggshell processing

Sector: agri-food, pharmaceutical, food
Keywords: eggshells, calcium carbonate, collagen

Context and Opportunity

Canadian egg production falls mainly under two large market segments: market eggs and hatching eggs. In 2007, Canadian market egg production reached 521.1 million dozens, 25% of which served the food processing industry (eggs to be broken). This represents 1.9 billion shell eggs that are broken in food processing plants. Also in 2007, Canada produced 70.2 million hatching eggs, 45% in Ontario and 19.2% in Quebec, representing 13.5 million hatching eggs produced in Quebec that year. This makes Quebec the second largest egg producer in Canada, after Ontario.

Eggshell waste generated by the food processing industry alone amounts to nearly 15 000 tons per year. At present, this waste is buried or used as an agricultural fertilizer and neutralizing agent. In most cases, hatcheries and companies that break eggs to collect the albumen and yellow must pay to dispose of the shells, since they are not used or processed.

However, eggshells have numerous benefits that can be reclaimed. As such, an economic opportunity exists to collect eggshells and process them for added value.

The Opportunity

The Acton region is one of the largest egg shelling centres in Canada, home to various well-established businesses that use several million dozens of eggs annually. The region offers a viable business opportunity in reclaiming eggshells, as the stable supply guarantees a large quantity of available material (over 4 000 tons of eggshell waste per year).

Eggshell Characteristics and Competitive Advantages

Eggshell waste includes the shell and a membrane that separates the shell from the albumen (the white). These materials consist of

94% to 97% calcium carbonate;
3% to 6% protein;
1% various minerals (including magnesium, potassium and traces of iron, sulphur and phosphorus).

The body is able to absorb the calcium found in eggshells more quickly and in larger quantities than synthetic or marine-based calcium, which can be contaminated with PCBs or heavy metals. Also, bovine calcium is prohibited in Canada. Furthermore, the shell’s internal membrane is made up partly of collagen, whose commercial value is over $1,000 per gram.

Applications and potential markets for the different eggshell components

Unused eggshell components	Area of activity	Use
Type I, V and X collagen	Biomedical	Bandages, surgical implants and cicatrizants
Calcium	Animal food	Food supplement
	Human food	Food supplement
	Pharmaceutical	Osteoporosis prevention Tissue regeneration
Glycosaminoglycans (GAG)	Cosmetic	Anti-aging creams and moisturizers
Glycosaminoglycans (GAG)	Food	Emulsifying agent in dressings and mayonnaise
Proteins specific to eggshells	Biomedical	Antibacterial protein Ovocalyxin-36 (OCX-36)
Powdered eggshells	Industrial	Ceramic and paper industries
	Energy	Capture C02 during hydrogen production
	Water treatment	Ability to absorb metal ions