Why Earth Loves Olive Oil 🌎

We can do this by driving less, avoiding single-use items, and sharing or swapping resources with our neighbors and loved ones. And when it comes to the oils we cook with and consume, extra virgin olive oil is always the sustainability winner!

As opposed to oils like soybean, sunflower, and canola, which are derived from annual crops, olive trees are a permanent crop that produces for many years without replanting. Annual crops require tilling, plowing, planting, and harvesting that strip the soil of nutrients and reduce its organic matter. These practices also require more fertilizers and energy. Permanent crops, like olive trees, improve soil microbe diversity and absorb more water through their deep roots without irrigation. Because of this, olive trees are drought-resistant and 70% thrive on rain alone!

If you wanted to be even more impressed by these gorgeous and generous olive trees, I’d tell you that they absorb significant amounts of CO2 and are considered “carbon sinks”. They are contributing to the mitigation of climate change by simply existing. It is estimated that one olive grove can remove 4.5 tons of CO2 annually! Olive trees also create a natural habitat for pest enemies like flies, ladybugs, and wasps, which reduces the need for harmful pesticides. 

When it comes time to make olive oil, the environmental advantages continue. Extra virgin olive oil utilizes a low-temperature, mechanical extraction process, otherwise known as cold pressing. This removes the need for chemical solvents and fossil fuels that are not only harmful to the environment, but to the people processing the oil. Refined olive oil is heat-treated to remove flavor and create a higher smoke point, but it’s much less common.

At Evie, we’re committed to extending the sustainable goodness in every way. First, our extra virgin olive oil is single-origin and utilizes authentic farming practices. It is all California-grown and produced, allowing for more transparency and a meaningful relationship with our incredible local farmers. Being that our olive oil is produced here in the U.S., we’re able to reduce transportation-related carbon emissions, aka, our “food miles.” Additionally, our delicious olive oils come in a 100% recyclable bottle.

We don’t stop with the olive oil itself - we want to make an even greater impact with every bottle we sell. Each year, we’re committed to donating 1% of our sales to an environmental non-profit through 1% for the Planet. In 2024, we had the pleasure of donating 1% of sales to Rodale Institute, which researches regenerative, organic farming. They’ve been fighting climate change and working to build a more resilient global food system for 75 years! The Earth provides so much to us, and at Evie Olive Oil, we know how important it is to give back and restore its resources. 

There are so many reasons to love olives and their decadent, nutritious oil. The many levels of sustainability from tree to bottle not only protect the planet but create a higher quality product that tastes better. Our passion for creating the best olive oil knows no bounds, and we want to share it with you! Please find our product here. And every time you drizzle some over grilled veggies or vanilla ice cream, know that it’s made with so much love and intention.