Zeytince is an İzmir-based civil society organisation working in the fields of agroecology, rural development, sustainable food systems, circular economy, living labs, ecological literacy, sustainable living, the climate crisis and cultural heritage. As a partner in the European Union's Horizon programmes, we share what we learn locally on a European and global scale.
The olive knows something we don’t.
A community movement rooted in olive culture, local food systems and the cultural landscape of the Aegean Peninsula.
Starting from the olive culture, commons and local knowledge of the İzmir Peninsula, we bring Europe’s research networks together with the region’s experience. With a design approach nourished by Horizon projects, we co-design ideas, test them in the field in living labs, and develop new models, experiences and creative collaborations that can live on beyond the life of a project.
A European project keeping cultural heritage and mutual aid alive in olive villages.
Runs Türkiye's Cultural Commons Lab in the Karaburun/Urla olive landscape, connecting imece (mutual aid), participatory governance and heritage safeguarding with agroecological transformation - with İzmir Institute of High Technology.
Official project page
A European research project bringing plant-based protein to the table.
42 partners, 14 countries: an EU-funded research and innovation project moving alternative proteins from niche to mainstream.
The LIKE-A-PRO project (No. 101083961) is funded by the European Union under the topic "HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-01-07".
Official project page
A free test that shows the carbon footprint of your daily life.
Run in 8 European countries: a free web app measuring personal carbon footprint and offering sustainable-lifestyle guidance.
Official project page
A learning centre for ecology and olive culture, born from an empty village school in İnecik, Karaburun.
In 2015 Zeytince decided to give its education work a permanent home by founding an Olive School, choosing Karaburun as its field of work in line with İzmir Development Agency's (İZKA) Peninsula Sustainable Development Strategy. With permission from the relevant public institutions, the former primary school in İnecik village, empty since 1992, was leased to the association.
The project was realised with the support of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality: a new building of the same dimensions replaced the old one, the grounds were landscaped, and Zeytin Okulu opened its doors in May 2017.
Today the school is both a stopover and information point on the Ephesus–Mimas Cultural Route and the Olive Road, and a centre for learning. It hosts research on olives and ecology, training on local products, workshops from philosophy to astronomy, harvest festivals and route walks, with a focus on creating new income and job opportunities for women and young people on the peninsula.
Zeytin Okulu website
Connecting olive culture and producers along a route you can visit.
A route linking olive culture, agroecology, local producers and eco-cultural tourism across the İzmir Peninsula.
Official project page
An eight-month ecological literacy education project in Karaburun, led by Ege University's Faculty of Economics under the TÜBİTAK 4004 Nature Education and Science Schools programme.
A creative-industries project designing new circular materials from olive pomace.
Inspired by olive cultivation in Karaburun: a creative-industries project turning olive pomace into bio-based materials through circular design.
Official project page
A food movement questioning the journey from seed to table.
A movement examining the seed-to-table food cycle in search of a shared, equitable food ecosystem.
Official project page
A chemical-free pest-control method developed together with producers.
A project with olive producers to spread ecological pest-control methods that reduce chemical inputs.
Official project page
Our co-founder Assoc. Prof. Meneviş Uzbay Pirili received the Yves Rocher Foundation's "Woman of the Soil" award for her ecological literacy education work in İzmir.
İnecik, Karaburun · since 2017
Born from an empty village school: an open home for olive culture, ecology and learning together.
Let’s find the right programme for your organisation, municipality or school together.
Write to usLearning programmes that bring together ecology, sustainability, philosophy and design.
From experience design to field operations, we develop participatory processes together.
Measurement and insight work focused on lifestyles, sustainability and carbon.
We connect institutions with international projects, funding and research partnerships.
We design digital experiences, content and creative engagement tools.
Zeytince’s design studio
We turn ecology and sustainability into digital experiences, publications and engagement tools.
Measure your carbon footprint, make 6 choices about İzmir and see your lifestyle profile.
Open the appAn app that makes the ecological footprint of everyday choices visible.
An app that measures the environmental impact of daily habits and offers personal tips; used in 8 European countries.
Open the app
AppMy Lifestyle: İzmir
NewslettersPSLifestyle 2022 Newsletter
NewslettersPSLifestyle 2025 Newsletter
Institutional PublicationsInstitutional Publications
Institutional PublicationsEcological Literacy Guide
Institutional PublicationsLike-A-Pro Leaflet
ReportsCitizen Science Report
ReportsCitizen Science Applications Report
ReportsThe Climate Crisis and Sustainable Development in an Age of Uncertainty
Experience Space DesignExperience Space Design
Event DesignPush Back Earth Overshoot Day with PSL
FootagePSL Project Video
FootagePSLifestyle İzmir Launch Event
AppPSL Lifestyle App
From municipalities to universities, the business world to civil society and international bodies — the partners we learn and build with.
