KLIMIS – Energy recovery of olive oil residues for industrial processes and circular innovative recovery of the new residues to bbq briquettes
Athanasios Makios ( ‘Circular Economy Specialist KLIMIS (VAS. & EK. KOTTARIDI GP) )
Summary of the project
Since 1992, Klimis-a small family business based in Kalamata that has been transforming crushed olive pips as a carbon-neutral fuel, that are fired with crushed limestone to produce quicklime, an important chemical with many agricultural, construction and environmental applications.
The partially combusted olive stones remaining from the process are then compressed into BBQ briquettes, offering a smoke-free, odorless, and spark-free alternative to wood charcoal.
This system eliminates fossil fuel and wood use, promoting sustainable energy recovery from agricultural residues while providing a certified deforestation-free solution.
Innovation
KLIMIS contributes to the EU 2020 strategy, which emphasise the role of bio-based products as alternatives to fossil fuels in building a sustainable, renewable-material-based economy. By utilising olive oil production residues as both an industrial heating fuel and a resource for BBQ briquettes, KLIMIS demonstrates a fully circular, waste-free approach to energy recovery.
Located in Kalamata, a globally recognised olive-producing region, KLIMIS transforms locally available crushed olive pips (exhausted olive cake) into a carbon-neutral kiln fuel, eliminating the need for fossil fuels in quicklime production. The partially combusted olive stones are then repurposed into BBQ briquettes, which successfully replace traditional wood charcoal. These briquettes burn without smoke, odor, or sparks, emit 30% less CO, and prevent the deforestation associated with charcoal production.
KLIMIS’ EU-patented process aligns with the UN call for alternative charcoal production methods. By demonstrating a sustainable model for biomass utilisation, KLIMIS directly contributes to global goals for forest conservation and biodiversity protection.
In recognition of its impact on circular economy and biodiversity, KLIMIS was selected as one of Europe’s top 30 circular solutions by the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF 2024). This highlights the company’s role in providing a viable, scalable alternative to wood charcoal, reducing the reliance on unsustainable logging practices while offering an energy-efficient and environmentally responsible solution.
Impact
KLIMIS repurposes 350 tonnes of olive residues monthly, eliminating fossil fuel use in quicklime production while producing 100 tonnes of BBQ briquettes, a sustainable alternative to wood charcoal. The process ensures zero wood and fossil fuel consumption, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
By replacing wood charcoal, KLIMIS helps combat deforestation and biodiversity loss, addressing concerns highlighted in the FAO report “The Charcoal Transition”, which links charcoal production to 1–2.4 Gt CO₂ emissions annually. This supports the EU Green Deal’s decarbonisation targets.
The company has created 15+ new jobs in Greece and abroad, with 50% of its revenue now generated from briquettes. Expanding to Germany, Sweden, the USA, Canada, and Australia, KLIMIS strengthens global access to sustainable bio-based fuel alternatives, proving that circular economy solutions can drive both climate action and economic growth.
Scalability and Replicability
KLIMIS’ model is scalable and adaptable, demonstrating how agricultural waste can be repurposed into renewable energy. The process can be expanded to other organic materials, including sawdust, nutshells, wheat straw, and coconut shells, broadening its impact in the sustainable fuel market.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) emphasises the need for charcoal alternatives to combat deforestation and biodiversity loss, positioning KLIMIS as a proven solution. Similar models are already in place, such as Tropico Coloka’s coconut briquettes in Indonesia and Olivette’s olive stone briquettes in Morocco, reinforcing the global shift toward biomass-based charcoal alternatives.
KLIMIS has successfully entered international markets, exporting its olive-based BBQ briquettes through Oliobric (Germany), Base Cooking (Sweden), OliveBriq (Canada and the USA), and Olive Pip Co (Australia). This expansion proves the commercial viability of sustainable bio-based fuels, providing a replicable blueprint for industrial and consumer energy applications worldwide.
Scalability and replicability
Of course, our initiative can be scaled up with other materials, such as agricultural and other organic waste (sawdust, nutshells, wheet straw, coconut shells, etc.). It is also mentioned to to Foresight Brief of United Nations environment programme with title: “Charcoal as a global commodity: is it sustainable?”. In Indonesia (https://tropicocoloka.com/tropicocoloka-coconut-charcoal-briquettes/), they are also making bbq briquettes out of coconut shells and in Morocco (https://www.olivette.ma/en/) from olive stones too.