Sustainability Practices

At Elysian, we are committed to producing exceptional extra virgin olive oil while ensuring the Sustainability of Gaia. Our focus is on minimizing our environmental footprint, protecting biodiversity, avoiding soil erosion, ensuring we remain positive in Oxygen Balance. All these aspects are essentials for preserving the long-term health and productivity of our olive trees, along with the rest of our planet. 

Here’s how we embrace sustainable practices in every step of our production process:

Organic Farming Excellence

Chemical-Free Production: At Elysian, we pride ourselves on using organic farming methods, free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Our olive trees are nurtured with natural alternatives to maintain soil fertility and safeguard the integrity of our product.

Soil Health: We enhance soil quality through composting and green fertilizers, which help sustain the long-term vitality of our estates and all their inhabitants.

Certification: Elysian EVOO is a certified organic evoo producer, adhering to the rigorous standards of the European Union for organic excellence, ensuring the Purity of our product through applying Tradition and Science.

Water Conservation

Patrinia Drought-Resistant Variety: Our olive variety, Patrinia, is naturally suited to the terrain of Mount Panachaikon and its climate. It only grows in our region and has limited surface water needs, for it grows deep roots able to detect and absorb deep-ground water sources.

Soil Management: Practices such as mulching, manuring and olive branches’ composting lead to soil moisture retention and biodiversity enhancement, minimizing the need for irrigation and fossil-fuel dependent fertilizers.

Minimizing External Inputs

Natural Fertilization: Instead of using synthetic fertilizers, we rely on organic compost, manure, and green fertilizers to nourish our trees and maintain the health of the soil.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): We prioritize the use of natural products such as kaolin along with pheromone traps to manage pests, creating a balanced ecosystem that supports biodiversity. What is more, kaolin also protects our plans from sunburns, prevents deseases, regulates water absorption and improves photosynthesis.

Agroforestry and Biodiversity

Supporting Biodiversity: Elysian’s olive trees are managed to encourage natural wildlife, creating habitats for beneficial species such as bees, birds, and insects that play vital roles in pollination and pest control.

Diverse Ecosystems: We adopt agroforestry practices by protecting naturally grown wild crops alongside olive trees, enriching the soil and enhancing biodiversity, which makes our groves more resilient to diseases and pests and enhances their unique quality characteristics, flavor and taste.

Soil Erosion Prevention

Terracing and Contour Farming: Our mountainous olive groves were planted hundreds of years ago using terracing and planting along the contours of the land, preventing soil erosion and maintaining the natural landscape. We changed nothing for there is nothing to add to perfection.

Carbon Sequestration

Natural Carbon Sinks: Our olive trees act as powerful carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. This helps mitigate Climate Change by sequestering carbon in the soil and biomass.

Energy Efficiency

Low-Emission Equipment: We prioritize energy-efficient machinery that reduces fuel consumption, ensuring that our farming and production processes are as environmentally friendly as possible.

Sustainable Harvesting

Hand-Harvesting: Our olives are carefully hand-picked at the optimal stage of ripeness to ensure the highest quality oil. This method avoids damaging the trees, preserves the integrity of the olives, and ensures minimal environmental impact.

Timing of Harvest: We harvest our olives at two different time periods:

  • while being immature, collected in limited quantities to preserve their delicate flavors, health benefits, and nutritional value;
  • at their full ripeness to add quantity to the quality of our evoo.

Whichever you choose, we can guarantee you will get the most out of your choice!

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Eco-Friendly Packaging

Sustainable Packaging: Elysian EVOO is packaged in glass and metal containers, which are both recyclable and environmentally friendly, under a strict “No Plastic” Commitment.

Certifications and Standards

Organic Certification: Elysian EVOO is certified by the Dio Organisation, adhering to the highest organic standards for quality and sustainability.

Environmental Labels: We proudly bear certifications that demonstrate our commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices.

By integrating these sustainable practices, Elysian EVOO not only produces a premium product but also contributes to the preservation of the Environment. We are dedicated to producing olive oil that is beneficial both for the consumers and the planet. Our commitment to sustainability is a driver essential for every aspect of our business, not just a slogan.

NET positive oxygen benefit

Oxygen Production from our Olive Trees: A 2000 Trees Breakdown

The net oxygen benefit from cultivating olive trees depends on various factors, including the trees’ age, health, climate, and management practices. Here follows an approximation based on general data.

Oxygen Production from Olive Trees

Photosynthesis and Oxygen Output:

  • Mature olive trees produce oxygen during photosynthesis by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.

  • A single mature olive tree can produce approximately 100-200 liters of oxygen per day during the active growing season.

Annual Oxygen Production (Per Tree):

  • Considering seasonal variations, a mature olive tree can produce around 2,700-4,000 liters of oxygen per year (average of ~3,000 liters per tree).

2000 Olive Trees:

  • 2000 olive trees would produce approximately 6,000,000 liters (6,000 cubic meters) of oxygen annually.

Net Oxygen Benefit Considerations

To calculate the net benefit, factors such as carbon emissions from agricultural activities (e.g., irrigation, fertilization, harvesting) need to be deducted. For a sustainably managed olive grove:

  • Practices like organic farming, minimal tillage, and low-input cultivation can significantly reduce emissions, ensuring a positive oxygen balance.

  • Carbon sequestration by the soil and biomass (roots, trunks, leaves) further enhances the net environmental benefit.

Comparison with Human Oxygen Needs

  • The average human breathes approximately 550 liters of oxygen per day, requiring ~200,000 liters annually.

  • 2000 olive trees produce enough oxygen to sustain 18-25 human beings for a year.

Additional Environmental Benefits

  • Carbon Sequestration: Olive trees absorb and store carbon dioxide, helping mitigate climate change.

  • Biodiversity: Olive groves support ecosystems by providing habitats for various species.

  • Soil Health: The roots reduce erosion and improve soil quality.

This analysis highlights olive cultivation as not only a source of premium products like EVOO but also a contributor to environmental sustainability.

 

To determine how many liters of gas emissions (e.g., from diesel-powered farm machinery) an olive tree can “afford” while maintaining a positive oxygen balance, we need to compare its annual oxygen production with the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the gas. Here’s the step-by-step process:

Oxygen Production Per Tree

  • Average Annual Oxygen Production:
    A single olive tree produces about 3,000 liters of oxygen per year (from photosynthesis).

  • Oxygen to Carbon Dioxide Ratio:

    • The combustion of 1 liter of gasoline produces about 2.3 kg of CO₂ (equivalent to 1,150 liters of CO₂ at standard atmospheric pressure).

    • Plants absorb CO₂ during photosynthesis and release oxygen at a nearly 1:1 molar ratio, so 1 liter of oxygen offsets approximately 1 liter of CO₂.

Gasoline Emissions Per Liter

  • 1 liter of gasoline generates approximately 1,150 liters of CO₂ during combustion.

  • Therefore, the question becomes: How much gasoline consumption results in emissions equivalent to 3,000 liters of oxygen?

Maximum Gasoline Usage Per Tree

  • Divide the annual oxygen production of one tree (3,000 liters) by the CO₂ produced per liter of gasoline (1,150 liters): Gasoline Usage per Tree=1,150liters of CO₂ per liter of gasoline / 3,000liters of oxygen≈2.6liters of gasoline annually.

Interpretation

Each olive tree can “afford” the equivalent emissions of about 2.6 liters of gasoline annually to maintain a net positive oxygen balance.

Scaling to a Grove of 2,000 Trees

For 2,000 olive trees:

  • Annual oxygen production = 6,000,000 liters of oxygen.

  • Maximum allowable gasoline usage = 2,600 liters per year across all activities (planting, irrigation, harvesting).

Strategies to Optimize

To ensure a positive oxygen balance while maximizing sustainability:

  1. Use low-emission equipment or electric alternatives.

  2. Implement organic and regenerative agricultural practices to enhance soil carbon sequestration.

  3. Optimize irrigation and fertilization to minimize emissions.

  4. Consider renewable energy sources for farming operations.

By reducing fuel consumption and emissions, you can strengthen the environmental benefits of your olive grove while maintaining a strong positive oxygen contribution.

To calculate the net oxygen benefit of cultivating our 2,000 olive trees while using approximately 1,500 liters of gasoline per year for all activities, let’s break it down:

Oxygen Produced by 2,000 Olive Trees

  • Average annual oxygen production per tree: 3,000 liters.

  • For 1,000 trees: 3,000liters/tree/year×2,000trees=6,000,000liters of oxygen/year.

CO₂ Emissions from Gasoline Usage

  • CO₂ emissions per liter of gasoline: 2.3 kg of CO₂.

  • Convert CO₂ mass to volume: 1 kg of CO₂ = approximately 500 liters of CO₂.

  • CO₂ emissions per liter of gasoline: 2.3kg×500liters/kg=1,150liters of CO₂ per liter of gasoline.

  • For 1,500 liters of gasoline: 1,500liters of gasoline×1,150liters of CO₂/liter=1,725,000liters of CO₂/year.

Net Oxygen Benefit

Assume that 1 liter of CO₂ offsets 1 liter of oxygen production during photosynthesis.

  • Oxygen produced by our trees: 6,000,000 liters/year.

  • CO₂ emissions from gasoline: 1,725,000 liters/year.

  • Net oxygen benefit: 6,000,000liters of oxygen−1,725,000liters of CO₂=4,275,000liters of net oxygen benefit/year.

Conclusion

After accounting for the emissions from using 1,500 liters of gasoline annually, our olive groves have a net positive oxygen benefit of 4,275,000 liters per year, equaling the annual needs of 18-25 people, depending on their age, sex and body size.