Sustainability policies introduced under the European Green Deal have strengthened climate- related disclosure requirements for agri-food companies. In particular, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive requires in-scope companies to transparently disclose information on their environmental performance. However, the academic literature on decarbonisation in the olive oil sector remains fragmented. This systematic literature review synthesises findings by considering cultivation, milling and retail, and waste management as interconnected stages of the olive oil supply chain and by developing a matrix linking decarbonisation strategies to the relevant European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics. Following the PRISMA protocol, 42 peer-reviewed studies from Scopus and Web of Science were included in the final synthesis, covering cultivation (RQ1), milling and retail (RQ2), and waste management (RQ3). The cultivation stage represents an important part of the emission profile of the chain while also offering potential for carbon sequestration through sustainable management practices, such as reduced tillage, cover crops, organic amendments and biochar application. In the downstream stages, the mill and its retail interface rely on a different set of measures, including two-phase extraction, rooftop photovoltaic systems, thermal recovery from pits, and lighter bottles transported in bulk. Waste management also offers opportunities to recover value from pomace, mill wastewater and pruning waste through biogas, biochar, compost or phenolic extracts. The potential for a net-negative carbon balance is context-dependent and varies with system boundaries, the balancing period, functional units, and the methods used to account for carbon sequestration. The matrix offers a clear classification of decarbonisation strategies and ESRS topics, opening valuable avenues for upcoming studies to extend its practical utility.
Decarbonisation Strategies in the Olive Oil Supply Chain: A Systematic Literature Review and ESG-Oriented Framework
Karapinar E.
;Rana R. L.;Orsitto L.;Lombardi M.;Bux C
2026-01-01
Abstract
Sustainability policies introduced under the European Green Deal have strengthened climate- related disclosure requirements for agri-food companies. In particular, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive requires in-scope companies to transparently disclose information on their environmental performance. However, the academic literature on decarbonisation in the olive oil sector remains fragmented. This systematic literature review synthesises findings by considering cultivation, milling and retail, and waste management as interconnected stages of the olive oil supply chain and by developing a matrix linking decarbonisation strategies to the relevant European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics. Following the PRISMA protocol, 42 peer-reviewed studies from Scopus and Web of Science were included in the final synthesis, covering cultivation (RQ1), milling and retail (RQ2), and waste management (RQ3). The cultivation stage represents an important part of the emission profile of the chain while also offering potential for carbon sequestration through sustainable management practices, such as reduced tillage, cover crops, organic amendments and biochar application. In the downstream stages, the mill and its retail interface rely on a different set of measures, including two-phase extraction, rooftop photovoltaic systems, thermal recovery from pits, and lighter bottles transported in bulk. Waste management also offers opportunities to recover value from pomace, mill wastewater and pruning waste through biogas, biochar, compost or phenolic extracts. The potential for a net-negative carbon balance is context-dependent and varies with system boundaries, the balancing period, functional units, and the methods used to account for carbon sequestration. The matrix offers a clear classification of decarbonisation strategies and ESRS topics, opening valuable avenues for upcoming studies to extend its practical utility.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
