Analysis and trends for Life Cycle Assessment of olive oil production

Abstract

For over 10 years, the olive oil sector has been largely studied through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Thus, a review of the numerous results and the different evaluated scenarios is relevant for future LCA studies on this important agro-economic sector of the Mediterranean region.The herein present work, based on scientific and technical literature aims to compare system boundaries, functional units, life cycle inventories, allocation, impact assessments, and interpretations from the currently existing LCAs of olive oil. Furthermore, an analysis of the assessment of biogenic carbon has been carried out among the reviewed papers.As a result, 23 relevant LCA studies on olive oil production or olives cultivation (for olive oil production) were identified. Analysis of the literature converged on an unequivocal environmental hotspot, the agricultural phase; which represents the most impactful phase of the olive oil life cycle, due in particular to fertilisation, pesticides treatment, and irrigation. Waste management and distribution also appear to represent a crucial issue. The comparison work made on climate change impact assessment is on the order of magnitude of 460 kg CO2-eq/ton of olive and 1.6 kg CO2-eq/L of olive oil. This study highlights the complexity of carrying out an LCA on the olive oil sector. At last, best practices and methodological recommendations were matured.