While our personal health and well-being are always matters of the highest priority and we take precautionary measures to keep ourselves hale and hearty, the environment we live in has a direct impact on every individual’s heath. It is very important to conserve the environment and do as much as we can to ensure that our planet and its resources are not being subject to abuse. We constantly require the resources provided by nature and to make sure that we do not deplete these resources is very important. In a world where we are incessantly consuming and our demands are continuously increasing, this can sometimes be a struggle. It might not be possible for us to stop consuming altogether and it is but natural for us to be dependent on our environment, the little we can do in order to sustain these resources is that we think of ways to add while taking.

Olive oil has been proven to be highly beneficial to us, but what does the production of olives and its oil do to the world around us. The good news is that there is proof that the production of olive oil has been found to be favourable to the ecosystem, giving back a lot more than it takes. Research has shown evidence that when the correct agricultural processes are adopted, the carbon sink effect from olive plantations in the biomass and soil is a lot higher than the greenhouse gases it emits from the production of one litre of olive oil.

This means that the protection of this crop, the demand and consumption of its oil is a plus for the planet and thus, makes its very existence a support in the battle against climate change. Olive oil is a positive for your body and your environment, making it quite the wholesome benefactor!

When olive oil is extracted, a paste called alpeorujo or olive mill waste is produced. This is a solid waste which is a great source of polyphenols. Polyphenols exhibit antimicrobial traits and therefore restrict more biological recycling. Alpeorujo is also being used for energy production, but is yet to be utilised in the most sustainable manner. Alpeorujo has high amounts of lignecellulosic material, oil residue in the form of oil and mineral apt as a carbon source for growing bacteria.

Fermentation helps produce biosufactants, which are a superior alternative to synthetic surfactants due to great stability and performance under extreme environmental conditions. They can be used in conditioning of soil and food and medicine. They have a number of benefits as an Eco-friendly replacement to chemically produced surfactants.

This means that by picking up a bottle of olive oil, you could be assisting the environment in flourishing and supporting the ecosystem. It is true that these would be baby-steps towards a healthy environment, however, as with our own health, every little bit counts.