Nearly all olive oil is produced around the Mediterranean, mostly by Greece, Spain and Italy, making the EU the largest exporter in the world. Thanks to the known health benefits associated with olive oil, consumption around the world is steadily growing and encouraging greater production.
Olive oil, however, can have considerable environmental impacts – particularly during the washing stage, which requires on average around 50 litres of clean water to process 100 kg of olives. The process also results in the generation of highly polluting liquid wastes, which contain polyphenols that inhibit biodegradation. Moreover, the oil content of the wastewater produces a film on the water surface, which hinders oxygen dissolution, thereby preventing aquatic life from thriving.
Further details: Environment friendly olive oil