Innovative Circular Business Models in the Olive Oil Sector for Sustainable Mediterranean Agrifood Systems

Mechthild Donner and Ivana Radić
Additional contact information
Mechthild Donner: INRAE—French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, UMR MOISA (Université Montpellier, INRAE, Cirad, Ciheam-Iamm, Institut Agro, IRD), 34060 Montpellier, France
Ivana Radić: INRAE—French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, UMR MOISA (Université Montpellier, INRAE, Cirad, Ciheam-Iamm, Institut Agro, IRD), 34060 Montpellier, France

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: Considering the large amounts of harmful waste produced in the Mediterranean olive sector, entrepreneurial initiatives creating value from olive waste and by-products via circular bio-economy approaches are reviewed. These circular business models aim to enhance the functionality use of olive trees beyond traditional patterns for value creation. The study focuses on business drivers and value creation mechanisms, and specifically on conversion pathways of olive waste towards new value propositions. In total, 41 cases are analyzed mainly according to the Business Model Canvas components with NVivo, based on data gathered from an extensive online search mainly of company websites and reports, online articles, research project reports, professional websites, and newsletters. Results indicate that some innovative businesses have emerged specializing in the domain of olive waste valorization, driven by environmental concerns and mainly focusing on bioenergy production. However, the overall olive biomass potential yet seems to be under-valorized. A more radical and systemic change will be needed for effective implementation of circular business models contributing to sustainable development in the Mediterranean olive sector, with adequate subsidies, common regulations, more collective actions for creating economies of scale, and marketing strategies to increase consumer awareness for bio-based products.

Keywords: circular economy; bioeconomy; business models; olive waste and by-products; sustainability; Mediterranean region (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2588/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2588/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2588-:d:507734

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().