Paninos, a company based in the south of Spain, takes what has traditionally been a waste byproduct of olive oil production and turned it into an additional revenue stream.
In a small town in the heart of Spanish olive country, an age-old byproduct is finding a brand new use.
Paninos, which is based in Benamejí, Córdoba, has launched an initiative to use olive stones in new and innovative ways. The company takes these stones and transforms them into furniture, including bathroom and kitchen counter tops, among other things.
The new applications would also contribute to entrepreneurial development and to create more jobs in Andalusia’s rural environment.- Francisco Arjona, Paninos
Spain is responsible for almost half of the world’s olive stone production. During the 2018 – 19 harvest year, the country was expected to produce nearly 800,000 tons of the byproduct, most of which is currently burned as biomass.
The project began in 2013 with the main goal of seeking new uses for these olive stones, so that they could be transformed from a waste product into an additional stream of revenue for olive growers and oil producers.
“The new applications would also contribute to entrepreneurial development and to create more jobs in Andalusia’s rural environment,” Francisco Arjona, the innovator behind these olive stone-based coatings, told Olive Oil Times.
Arjona is a technical architect and is well acquainted with the olive oil sector. He works for two companies that produce, transform and sell olive oil stones, either for biomass or to be used in other industrial processes, such as cosmetics production and biocomposites. Juan Cabello, a carpenter, has worked with Arjona on the product’s development.
The creation of Paninos olive stone coatings has been the result of a long process that began with trying to stick the crushed olive stones to wood. Once a material similar to the current coating was achieved, the inventors realized its uniqueness, versatility and aesthetic potential for decoration. The crushed stones have many possibilities in terms of textures and designs. The material is also sustainable, durable and renewable.
“What we do is spread crushed olive stones over a board to which resin has been previously applied,” Arjona said. “Once the stones are adhered, the material is sanded and the resulting surface is covered with an olive stone flour filler. The material is then sanded again and coated with a transparent varnish.”
One of the advantages of the material is that it allows for a great diversity of colors and designs. In addition to tables, kitchen or bathroom counters, Paninos is also using olive stones to create doors, frames, wall panels, worktops, and other products.
According to Arjona, the coatings have a very competitive price, considering how unique and versatile they are. He and Cabello work mostly with stones from Arbequina, Hojiblanca and Picual olive varieties, although Arjona emphasized that the variety of the olive employed is irrelevant for the final product.
In 2018 Paninos obtained a European patent for this material. This January 2019 the company will join Spain’s ICEX-Exports and Investments stand at the Maison & Objet fair, which is held in Paris, to showcase their products to potential buys from around the globe.
Paninos is also working on developing new and different kinds of products related to olive stones.
More articles on: olive harvest, Spain
Jul. 20, 2024
Trade Commission Extends Tariffs on Spanish Black Olives
The decision came two months after the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Commerce Department’s tariffs.
Mar. 6, 2024
US Surpasses Spain as Second-Largest Olive Oil Consumer
Experts predict the U.S. will overtake Italy to become the world’s largest consumer of olive oil.
Oct. 18, 2024
Officials in Spain Optimistic Ahead of Harvest as Prices Remain Elevated
Spain is expected to produce between 1.4 and 1.5 million tons of olive oil in the 2024/25 crop year after a wet winter and mild spring favored a bumper crop.
Jul. 9, 2024
Enhancing Excellence: How the World's Best Restaurant Uses Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Locally sourced extra virgin olive oil is an essential ingredient for the Michelin-star chefs at Disfrutar Barcelona and their award-winning tasting menu.
Feb. 28, 2024
Córdoba Festival Promotes Local Olive Oil Against Backdrop of Harvest Challenges
Organizers hailed the event as an opportunity for local producers to promote their products after a demanding harvest.
Jun. 12, 2024
Deoleo North America CEO Says Sustainability is Key to Growing Olive Oil Sector
Thierry Moyroud views Deoleo as guardians of the industry, prioritizing quality production and sustainable practices above all else.
Sep. 16, 2024
Invasive Sheep Devastate Olive Groves in Eastern Spain
Over the past 50 years, invasive species like the Barbary sheep have rapidly increased in both population and range, leading to more frequent interactions with agriculture.
Dec. 4, 2023
How the Iberian Ant Can Help Control Pests in Olive Groves
Researchers found that Iberian ants naturally prey on olive moth larvae in olive groves without disrupting the rest of the ecosystem.