An overview on olive oil waste valorization scenarios: Life Cycle Approach

The olive industry finds significant growth in the Mediterranean basin where olive oil is produced in massive quantities, in a short time. The olive oil processing chain generates a significant quantity of solid and liquid wastes. This waste can cause significant environmental problems in the Mediterranean area. This study is focused on the identification of different recovery scenarios of wastes resulting from the transformation of olive oil in a life cycle approach. Particular attention has been paid to the three main phases of the olive oil life cycle (agricultural phase, production phase and packaging phase). The results can help decision-makers choose the best recovery scenario to reduce environmental impacts by closing waste loops. Copyright (C) 2022 The Authors.