HORIZONS 2022: Sovena USA leads the way in sustainability efforts

ROME – During a time when the finite state of Earth’s resources is more apparent than ever, Sovena, USA of Rome – one of the largest olive oil companies in the world – is leading the way in sustainability efforts through each step of their production process. 

Sovena recently launched Feeding Futures, a series of sustainability initiatives over the course of three years, and their new brand mantra, that the company undertook to make a positive impact on the planet within their operations. In that time, Sovena is elbow-deep in tackling several ambitious goals, including: 

• Development of a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Management Plan for the company’s farms

• 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the company’s production

• 100% electricity from renewable sources in their factories

• An average incorporation of 50% of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in Sovena brands plastic packaging

• Family-Responsible Company (EFR) certification in Portugal, the first location to implement this set of measures that promote work-life balance.

“Our vision for sustainability is inextricably linked to our understanding about the future of food consumption,” Sovena’s managing director Enrique Escudero said. “That is why Feeding Futures is based on the principle of feeding people and the planet in a sustainable way.”

At their 1 Olive Grove St., Rome location specifically, Sovena is focusing on packaging reduction by reducing the weight in grams used to produce their bottles themselves. They also recently began officially operating out of their new Modesto, California. location, which reduces their delivery trucks’ carbon footprint by now being able to deliver domestically from both East and West coast locations. 

Since launching the program in 2020, Sovena has already checked off many impactful initiatives. The company has set goals to end their use of black pigment in plastic bottle caps and pourers, and to stop use of plastic-wrapped bottles. Consumers should start to see the new labels on the shelves soon. Sovena also joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s “The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment,” with the target of 31% reduction of virgin plastic by 2025 (3,500 tons).

Of the waste produced by Sovena since 2020, 94% has been reused or recycled in some manner. They plan a full transition to 100% green electricity and no-waste production by 2023. Currently, this includes using olive tree leaves for animal feed, olive pits to heat their mill, and water from their trees for irrigation and production. In fact, Sovena has planted 10 million new trees so far, with more being planted every day.

“At Sovena, we are committed to improving not only the efficiency of our processes, but also to reduce our waste flows, converting them into new resources for other industries,” João Basto, new ventures & sustainability director at Sovena said. “The continuous monitoring of our performance is essential to identifying new goals and opportunities.”

Sovena also set out to back other companies’ sustainability initiatives. They recently invested in ECOXperience, the only startup in the world that transforms used cooking oils into ecological detergents.

“Sovena believes the solution to rebalancing the planet involves following the example of nature, where everything has a purpose, transforming waste into new resources,” Escudero said. “We want to promote an increasingly diversified and sustainable diet through the quality and innovation of our products, through the use of agriculture that protects nature and through efficient and circular transformation.”

For more information about Sovena, visit SovenaGroup.com.