The story behind our repurposed olive stone powder

SYMBOLIC AND FUNCTIONAL

The olive tree is cultivated for olive oil, fine wood, olive leaf, and the olive fruit. About 90% of all harvested olives are turned into oil, while about 10% are used as table olives. The olive is one of the three main ingredients in Mediterranean cuisine, the other two being wheat for bread, pasta, and couscous, and the grape for wine.

An olive tree’s fruit, also called the olive, is therefore of major agricultural importance in the Mediterranean region. The tree and its fruit give their name to the plant family, which also includes species such as lilacs and jasmine. Olives also hold symbolic value. The olive branch has been seen as a symbol of abundance, glory, and peace. The leafy branches of the olive tree were ritually offered to deities and powerful figures as emblems of benediction and purification, and they were used to crown the victors of both friendly games and bloody wars. Over the years, the olive has also been used to symbolize wisdom, fertility, power, and purity.

AS A BY-PRODUCT

Olive stones are a by-product of olive oil production. The production facility for the olive powder that we use is located in Benamejí (Andalucia) at the heart of the Spanish olive growing region. The facility is partnered with a number of selected olive oil mills to obtain raw olive stones directly and following the principles of fair trade.

To produce olive oil, the olive is always compressed as a whole i.e. including the kernel. Following this compression, a solid residue ("olive cake") is produced at the oil mills. Specialized machines developed exclusively for this purpose are then used to separate the crushed olive stone fragments from the remainders of pulp and peel. These wood-like granules are cleaned of impurities, dried and screened based on their particle sizes.

The result is a fine, creamy light beige powder without any dust or pulp residues.

WASTE-FREE PROCESS

Olive stones as a raw material are therefore obtained through a process that reduces waste. It is purely mechanical and does not require any chemicals or additives. Olive stone processing is an environmental success story because it reflects the principles of the circular economy. Residues are being "upcycled", i.e. transformed into quality additives - a process that is relatively energy efficient and does not produce any waste.

We believe that this raw material allows us to make a great contribution to environmental, human and industrial sustainability. Its origin, transformation and properties are unique and it is a 100% renewable process. What we are working with to create the powder is 100% by-product – not a farmed crop.

We are proud that UpCircle is now a business deeply ingrained in the olive ecosystem!

But why have we chosen to work with this ingredient?

We use the olive powder in our gently-detoxifying face mask. The olive powder is combined with rejuvenating white kaolin clay, coconut powder and baobab oil. The olive powder acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory and a source of antioxidants. Antioxidants fight cell degradation, which can in turn, help to prevent the signs of aging. It also has soothing and strengthening properties.

Finally, the presence of the powder in our face mask formulation helps to create its gorgeous texture. It has a light, mousse-like consistency and the powder helps with the ease with which it can be spread across the skin – it enhances the dispersion of the end product.

Our Face Mask can be used to fight blackheads, minimise pores and prevent breakouts, leaving the skin cleansed, refreshed and balanced. Have you tried it yet? 

Now get 15% off the olive powder face mask with discount code OLIVE15 - simply enter at checkout!