Deoleo advances its recycled plastic goal by five years and increases the volume of its sustainable EVOO to 36%

Deoleo, the world's No. 1 olive oil company, has presented its 2025 Sustainability Report, outlining the primary environmental, social, and governance (ESG) progress achieved during the last fiscal year. The firm thus demonstrates that the growth driven by its new roadmap, "EVOO-lution," is advancing in full harmony with its purpose, “Cuidamos lo que te Cuida” ("We care for what cares for you").

Among the most relevant data in the Deoleo report, a significant achievement in the circular economy stands out: incorporating 40% recycled plastic in its packaging, advancing the target originally set for 2030 by five years. This milestone is joined by a 30% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2022, and the commercialization of 36% of its Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) volume from sustainable mills.

These global sustainability priorities are also being implemented across key markets, including India, where Deoleo has undertaken focused initiatives in circular packaging and waste management. In India, the company has responsibly managed 370 MT of PET waste, including 222 MT recycled and 148 MT co-processed.

Cristóbal Valdés, CEO of Deoleo, highlighted that: "These achievements demonstrate that we are moving determinedly toward a business model that combines economic growth with a real and positive impact on the social, environmental, and governance spheres. Through all these sustainable actions, we want to elevate the value of olive oil to increase its legacy, caring for the origin, the product quality, and the final consumer through innovation and maximum transparency".

A Firm Commitment to Circular Economy and Decarbonization

The circular economy and industrial efficiency have consolidated as structural pillars for Deoleo's ESG strategy. According to its Report, the company has incorporated 40% recycled plastic (rPET) in its bottles, representing an increase of 15 percentage points compared to 2024 and a five-year advance on the 2030 goal. This type of plastic consumes 70% less energy and 90% less water; furthermore, this progress has led to a net reduction of 7.6% in plastic waste, with 79% of Deoleo's bottles now being recyclable. At the industrial level, the consolidation of its "Zero Waste" model has allowed for the recovery and "second life" of 94.4% of the waste generated at its Alcolea and Tavarnelle factories.

These initiatives are delivering measurable environmental outcomes. In India, this includes savings of 4,439,892 litres of water, 3,107,924 kWh of energy, and 554,987 litres of oil, along with the elimination of 628,985 kg of air pollutants and avoidance of 24,049 cubic feet of landfill space.

Regarding the decarbonization of the value chain, and adding the role of olive trees as carbon sinks (for every liter of oil, olive trees absorb 10.7 kg of CO2) —Deoleo has secured a 30.3% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) compared to 2022. This has avoided the emission of 135,270 tons of carbon dioxide, advancing firmly toward its climate goals validated by the international SBTi initiative. This is complemented by the fact that the company's factories operate with 98% renewable electrical energy, following a 14.5% annual increase in the use of clean sources.

Growing Collaboration with Farmers through the Sustainability Protocol

The Sustainability Protocol remains the core of Deoleo's ESG strategy regarding the oil's origin. At the close of 2025, the company has certified 95 mills under this Protocol, an 8% increase over the previous year. This close collaboration network with more than 61,000 farmers allows Deoleo to support and certify agricultural practices across nearly 350,000 hectares of olive groves worldwide.

Through this pioneering protocol launched in 2018, Deoleo helps farmers adapt to sector challenges and provides necessary training to mills. This includes tools to correctly measure emissions, optimize resource consumption (such as water and energy), and implement new parameters regarding equality. These efforts are delivering measurable environmental impact across markets. In India, this is equivalent to planting over 28,500 trees, removing more than 1,350 cars from the road annually, and saving approximately 24.3 million litres of drinking water.

Thanks to its application, 36% of Deoleo's EVOO volume comes from these sustainable mills, 2% more than the previous year. To put this progress into perspective, the company recorded total sales of 158 million liters globally during the year, demonstrating its ability to transfer these good practices to large production volumes and lead the sector's modernization from field to table.

Talent and the Consumer as Axes of Development

In its social dimension, Deoleo closely links the growth of its human team with adaptation to new market demands. Internally, the company has strongly boosted professional training, reaching 27,267 training hours in 2025, a 27.5% increase over the previous year. This commitment to talent is complemented by progress in equality, reflected in a pay gap that favors women within the organization and the promotion of pioneering social initiatives like "Creciendo Juntas" (Growing Together), which highlights the role of women in the olive oil sector.

For the consumer, this evolution translates into constant innovation through key brands such as Bertolli, Carbonell, Carapelli, and Figaro. Over the last year, the firm has launched new products designed to encourage more balanced and precise consumption, such as the "oil cruet" format or new spray packaging. These formats are supporting greater accessibility and integration into everyday consumption habits, particularly in emerging markets such as India. The global reach of these brands has allowed Deoleo to impact more than 123 million people worldwide since 2022 through campaigns raising awareness about the health benefits of olive oil and the Mediterranean diet.

Transparency as a Hallmark of Identity

Transparency remains a core pillar of Deoleo’s governance framework. The company has expanded its digital traceability system using Telefónica Tech’s TrustOS, enabling consumers to access detailed information about product origin through QR codes. This system is now implemented across 51 EVOO references, covering 36% of total marketed volume.

Such digital traceability initiatives are increasingly relevant in India’s evolving food ecosystem, where consumers are actively engaging with QR-enabled information to make more informed purchase decisions.

Deoleo continues to uphold strong governance practices, including ESG evaluation of 100% of key suppliers and linking up to 50% of executive variable compensation to sustainability targets.

The company has retained its EcoVadis Platinum rating for the second consecutive year, placing it among the top 1% of companies globally, and continues to hold AENOR’s highest governance certification (G++).

In India, these sustainability initiatives have contributed to an estimated reduction of ~1,915 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of approximately 83,000 trees.

For more information on Deoleo's sustainability progress, please consult the full 2025 Sustainability Report at this link.