Evaluating environmental burdens and resource consumption in the olive oil industry by using LCA methodology

Türkiye is one of the major worldwide olive oil producers; thus, it is substantial to examine and evaluate the environmental impacts of its production. In this study, virgin olive oil production in Türkiye is extensively evaluated concerning its environmental impacts utilizing the life cycle assessment methodology with cradle-to-gate approach. Additionally, the environmental performance of two and three-phase extraction technologies was compared, the importance of fertilization in raw material extraction stage was assessed, the environmental impacts of valorization of waste were discussed, and the study was related to Türkiye's 2030 Climate Change and 2053 Net Zero Targets. Additionally, the impact of the use of chemicals in olive orchards is comprehensively analyzed, referencing The EU Green Deal Farm to Fork Strategy .These analyses are intended to emphasize the potential contribution of sustainable agriculture to virgin olive oil production and its environmental performance. The outcomes of the study are examined: global warming potential, abiotic depletion , eutrophication potential, and marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential impact categories. The analysis showed that the agricultural activities had the highest environmental impacts, and increasing the share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation improved the environmental performance of producing 1 kg of unpacked virgin olive oil. Furthermore, the two-phase extraction method showed more environmentally favorable results, and waste valorization processes proved crucial. Additionally, it becomes evident that Türkiye's VOO production holds an important position in terms of environmental impacts. The study emphasize the necessity of adopting cleaner energy resources, improved agricultural practices, and optimizing industrial processes.