Deoleo Smashes Green Goals, Setting New Bar for Olive Oil Industry

DALLAS, TX – April 15, 2026 – Deoleo, the world’s largest olive oil company and owner of brands like Bertolli and Carapelli, has significantly accelerated its environmental agenda, achieving a key 2030 recycled packaging goal five years ahead of schedule. The announcement, detailed in its 2025 Sustainability Report, signals a major milestone not only for the company but for a food industry grappling with the urgent need for a circular economy.

According to the report, the company has successfully incorporated 40% recycled plastic (rPET) into its bottles. This represents a substantial 15 percentage point increase from 2024 levels and fulfills a target originally set for the end of the decade. This achievement is a cornerstone of the company’s “EVOO-lution” strategy, which aims to embed sustainability into every facet of its global operations, from agricultural practices to consumer transparency.

A New Benchmark in Packaging

Deoleo's progress in plastic reduction stands out in a consumer goods landscape where many companies are struggling to meet ambitious environmental targets. While initiatives like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment have seen signatories collectively slow the growth of virgin plastic use, widespread achievement of 2025 goals has proven elusive. Deoleo’s early success, therefore, positions it as a leader in tangible action.

The shift to 40% rPET has yielded immediate environmental benefits, contributing to a 7.6% net reduction in the company's total plastic waste. Furthermore, 79% of Deoleo’s bottles are now fully recyclable. The use of rPET is inherently more efficient, consuming an estimated 70% less energy and 90% less water than virgin plastic production. At its manufacturing facilities in Alcolea, Spain, and Tavarnelle, Italy, a “Zero Waste” model has enabled the company to recover and find a “second life” for over 94% of all generated waste, further cementing its commitment to circular principles.

This move is part of a broader trend within the competitive olive oil sector. Competitors like Filippo Berio and Pompeian have also made significant strides, introducing bottles with 50% rPET content and setting aggressive targets for virgin plastic reduction. Deoleo’s accomplishment underscores a growing industry-wide recognition that sustainable packaging is no longer a niche concern but a competitive necessity.

Decarbonizing the Entire Value Chain

Beyond packaging, Deoleo has made substantial headway in its decarbonization efforts. The company reported a 30.3% reduction in its total greenhouse gas emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 compared to its 2022 baseline. This equates to an avoidance of 135,270 tons of CO2 emissions, a figure made more significant by its validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). SBTi validation confirms that a company's climate goals are not arbitrary but are aligned with the scientific consensus required to meet the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming.

The comprehensive nature of this reduction, which includes Scope 3 emissions from the entire value chain, demonstrates a deep commitment to tracking and mitigating environmental impact beyond direct operations. This is complemented by the fact that 98% of the electrical energy used in Deoleo’s factories is now sourced from renewable energy, reflecting a 14.5% year-over-year increase in clean energy adoption. The company also highlights the inherent climate benefit of its core product, noting that for every liter of olive oil produced, the olive groves from which it originates absorb 10.7 kg of CO2, acting as natural carbon sinks.

From Sustainable Groves to Transparent Bottles

Deoleo's strategy extends deep into its supply chain, directly engaging with the source of its oil. The company’s proprietary Sustainability Protocol serves as the foundation for its agricultural partnerships. By the end of 2025, Deoleo had certified 95 mills under this protocol, an 8% increase from the previous year. This network now encompasses over 61,000 farmers managing nearly 850,000 acres of olive groves worldwide.

Through this program, 36% of the company's Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) volume—out of 158 million liters sold globally—is now sourced from these certified sustainable mills. The protocol provides farmers with training and tools to measure resource use, reduce emissions, and implement fair labor practices. While it is an internal standard, its scale and focus on measurable improvement align with the principles of external certifications seen elsewhere in the industry, such as Pompeian’s Sustainably Grown® certification, indicating a sector-wide push for more responsible agriculture.

To close the loop and build consumer trust, Deoleo has aggressively expanded its use of blockchain technology. Using Telefónica Tech’s TrustOS platform, the company now features QR codes on 51 of its EVOO products. This technology allows consumers to scan a bottle and instantly access a secure, immutable record of the oil’s journey from grove to shelf. This digital traceability system now covers 36% of Deoleo's total marketed volume, providing an unprecedented level of transparency in an industry historically plagued by issues of fraud and mislabeling.

The Business Case for Comprehensive ESG

Deoleo's string of sustainability achievements is underpinned by strong corporate governance and external validation, building a compelling business case that ESG leadership translates into long-term resilience and value. For the second consecutive year, the company earned a Platinum medal from EcoVadis, placing it in the top 1% of the 150,000 companies evaluated globally for their environmental, social, and governance performance.

Moreover, Deoleo became the first company in its sector to achieve the highest possible rating (G++) on the AENOR Corporate Governance Index, signaling exceptional transparency and integrity in its management practices. This focus on governance is also evident in its social initiatives, which include a 27.5% increase in employee training hours and programs designed to elevate the role of women in the olive oil industry.

By proactively aligning with rigorous standards and achieving its ambitious targets ahead of schedule, Deoleo is not merely improving its environmental footprint. It is building a powerful narrative of quality, transparency, and responsibility that resonates with investors, regulators, and a new generation of consumers who demand more than just a product; they demand proof of purpose.