Founder Benedicte de Blavous and Co-Founder
Raja Moubarak

2b design (2bdesign.biz), which transforms architectural salvage from conflict zones and other reclaimed materials into one-of-a-kind home décor items, announced it has become a certified B Corporation. The prestigious designation is awarded to companies that use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems and meet higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. There are only 967 companies in 32 countries that have been awarded this certification so far. Founded in Beirut, Lebanon by Benedicte de Blavous and with a US base in Cambridge, MA, 2b design trains and employs marginalized and disabled individuals to enable them to become world class artisans. The US operation focuses on helping marginalized women. The company involves in its work people of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds to promote reconciliation and build bridges instead of walls. Its flagship brand is called Beyt, which means “house” or “home” in Hebrew and Arabic. 2b design is often referred to as Beyt by 2b design.

The company mission is "to restore the unseen beauty of the broken." It includes four focus areas: people, broken heritage, broken environment, broken relationships.

2b design's products can be found in Europe, the Middle East, Japan and the US. The creations include lamps, tables, candelabras and other unique home decor items made out of 18th, 19th and early 20th century architectural elements from destroyed houses in Syria, Egypt and Lebanon or other reclaimed materials. Lampshades and cushions are handmade out of 18th or 19th century linen from French bridal dowries, vintage ethnic fabrics and different fabric remnants. Since the start of business, 100% of the workers who make the products have been recruited from marginalized backgrounds and provided with dignified employment.

This B Corporation certification is the first to be awarded to a company operating out of Lebanon. Benedicte de Blavous Moubarak 2b design founder declared: "Becoming a Certified B Corporation for a company like ours with an operation in a conflict zone will hopefully inspire other businesses in the hard places of the world to become active elements of positive transformation."

Raja Moubarak co-founder said: "Our definition of impact is not what we can achieve with our own efforts but the collective result of collaborating with like minded individuals and values-aligned organizations. For example Habitat for Humanity refurbishes the houses of our most marginalized workers, Pine Street Inn in Boston referred our first homeless employee to us and in Beirut, Lebanon we use the forge of Arc-en-Ciel a local NGO where we work with a multi-religious team of disabled ironworkers that we have trained for years. We believe that within the B Corp community we will find other businesses that will allow us to amplify our impact...we have already been contacted by fellow B Corps and this is very encouraging."

About B Corp: B Corp (www.bcorporation.net) is operated by the nonprofit organization, B Lab, committed to serving a global movement to redefine success in business. B Corps meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Their vision is not only to be the best in the world but the best for the world.

2B Design Home LLC

2B Design Home LLC

2b design is an award-winning social enterprise which transforms architectural salvage from conflict zones and uses other recycled materials into home decor. 2b design operates out of Cambridge, MA USA and Beirut Lebanon. It is a certified B Corporation which employs disabled and marginalized individuals of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds and trains them to become world class artisans. Beyt, the flagship brand of the company means house or home in Semitic languages. The mission of 2b design is to restore the unseen beauty of the broken which includes 4 dimensions: people, heritage, environment and relationships.

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