The story of BEEN started with a curious ex-BBC News journalist back in 2018. While volunteering at a refugee camp sorting clothes donations, our founder Genia wondered what happened to garments and shoes that were too old or damaged and so not suitable for the refugees. This led her on a journey of research into what happens to things when we throw them away and a year spent at Cambridge studying Sustainable Value Chains.
What began as a one-off project to make a point—that it’s possible to make cool things without using any virgin materials—quickly took on a life of its own. Our accessories line, made entirely from recycled materials, gained a loyal following, global press, and a shelf of sustainability awards.
In 2021 we embarked on our first commission. The global team at DHL challenged us to find a creative solution for one of their tricky waste streams—sponsorship banners used at Formula 1 races. Then there were projects for Netflix, Tate, Rosewood Hotels, VISA, and many others that made BEEN what it is today: part design studio, part waste consultants and problem-solvers, and part collective of curious innovators on a mission to make circularity mainstream.
Today, we're an all-female team of multi-disciplinary designers and researchers based in East London. We work across design, consultancy, and innovation, challenging and helping multiple industries to do better.
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