Smart sustainable biorefining of olive mill waste into biocompounds for plant and soil health, bioplastics, and bioenergy
The Challenges
Olive mill waste pollution
Up to 50 million tons of olive residues are generated every year worldwide. Without proper treatment, these by-products contaminate soil, water, and air, due to their high organic load, acidity, and phytotoxic phenolic content. The environmental burden threatens ecosystems and rural communities.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Uncontrolled storage or disposal of olive mill waste releases methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide, significantly contributing to climate change. Reducing these emissions is crucial to meet the EU’s Zero Pollution and Climate Neutrality goals.
Limited valorisation of residues
Most olive by-products are discarded or underused, even though they are rich in bioactive compounds, fibers, and nutrients. Unlocking their value through innovative biorefinery technologies is key to transforming waste into sustainable products and new revenue streams.
Need for biobased plant protection, biopesticides, and fertilizers
Excessive use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers degrades soils, contaminates water, and harms biodiversity. Developing natural, bioactive alternatives from olive waste supports greener agriculture and long-term food security.
Dependence on fossil-based plastics
Over 99% of plastics are still made from fossil resources, and plastic pollution remains a global challenge. Bioplastics derived from olive residues and even CO2 offer a renewable, biodegradable alternative to conventional materials.
Odour and noise
Olive oil production sites often cause strong odours, wastewater, and noise emissions, affecting workers and nearby communities. These local environmental pressures hinder social acceptance and sustainable operation of olive mills.
Complexity of biorefineries
Integrating biological, chemical, and physical processes into one efficient system requires digitalisation and AI-driven optimisation. Digital twins can simulate process interactions and support real-time decision-making for sustainability.
Ensuring sustainability and safety
For truly circular and zero-waste systems, safety, environmental, and economic aspects must be integrated from the design phase. Continuous life cycle and risk assessments ensure that innovations remain viable, safe, and beneficial for society.
Our Aim
OLinWASTE aims to establish an innovative case study for an integrated, zero-emissions biorefinery to convert olive mill waste into valuable resources, thus setting a new benchmark in sustainable waste management and renewable energy production.
The project will upcycle underutilized side streams into high-value products such as plant-based bioimmunostimulants, biopesticides, biofertilizers, biobased plastics, and bioenergy. It focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, optimizing waste streams, minimizing noise, recovering thermal energy, and reducing odors from pomace and digestate.
A digital twin of the system will be created to improve sustainability, efficiency, and optimization of material, energy, and waste flows throughout the system. Integrated methods will be used to protect soil, water, and air quality. The aim is to improve environmental performance, promote circularity, and reduce the carbon footprint in the olive oil and biogas sectors, addressing waste management and sustainability challenges.
Key figures
- Full Titel: Smart sustainable biorefining of olive mill waste into biocompounds for plant and soil health, bioplastics, and bioenergy
- Programme: Horizon Europe (HORIZON-CL6-2024-ZEROPOLLUTION-02-2-two-stage )
- Duration: June 2025 – May 2029 (48 months)
- Budget: € 4 million
- Coordinator: Vincenzo Lionetti, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy
- Consortium: 9 partners from 6 countries