The bioeconomy is a hot topic these days, right up at the top of policy agendas. It involves using renewable natural resources as a raw material. The circular bioeconomy introduces circularity into this concept: using what would otherwise be thrown away, using spent biological resources to regenerate ecosystems and minimising waste.

The ECESP website has a good selection of circular bioeconomy-themed content. This series will shine a spotlight on it.

Circular bioeconomy concept: feeds, additives, packaging and biogas from olive waste

The OLIWA project (Repurposing OLIve WAste in circular economy solutions for feeds, additives, packaging and biogas) is a research and innovation initiative with a strong focus on circular economy and zero-waste principles. It began in June 2025 and aims to establish sustainable value chains across six Mediterranean countries.

The main objective is to support the sustainable repurposing of olive waste into co-products for use in animal feeds, functional ingredients, packaging and biogas. Through extensive research and real-world demonstrations, OLIWA will validate the feasibility and sustainability of these circular solutions, aiming to reduce environmental impact while creating new economic opportunities.

• The animal feed dimension involves insects and the olive waste itself. Insects will be fed on olive by-products and then converted into high-quality animal feed. Natural olive extracts will also be used as feed additives.
• The project will explore deriving functional ingredients, i.e. ingredients which play an active role in improving the overall quality and/or processing of food, from natural olive extracts.
• It will investigate producing sustainable food packaging materials derived from olive waste and insect-based components to improve food preservation and reduce losses.
• Lastly, the project will look at the production of biogas from olive waste and animal or insect manure as an alternative energy source.

OLIWA also aims to achieve a minimum 25% reduction in food losses and waste, aligning with broader sustainability targets and contributing to the resilience of the Mediterranean agri-food sector. Funded under the EU's PRIMA Programme, the project is a significant step toward a more sustainable and innovative olive industry in the region: it seeks to turn agricultural waste into high-value applications and foster a circular economic model.