--- title: "Carbon Hero Feature: Byzantine Design" description: "Dara started in the tile industry 20 years ago. She always had a dream to have her own business, which became a reality 6 years ago when she opened the doors to Byzantine Design in Prahran, Melbourne. Dara notes it as a great city to start a business in, as Melbournians really embrace and support … Carbon Hero Feature: Byzantine Design Read More »" --- ![](https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/hubfs/raw_assets/public/CarbonPositiveAustralia_August2021/images/large-logo.png?noresize) × - [About Us](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/about-us/) - [Blog](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/) - [Account](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/my-account/) - [Contact](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/contact/) - Our Work - [Our Projects](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/our-work/) - [Community Planting Projects](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/our-work/community-planting-projects/) - [CarbonCare™](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/about-carbon/carboncare-program/) - Act Now - [Plant Trees](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/product/donate-trees/) - [Purchase Quick Offsets](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/product-category/quick-offsets/) - [Calculate Your Footprint](https://calculator.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/) - [Plant your Land](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/partnerships/plant-your-land/) - [Spread the Word](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/spread-the-word/) - [Partner with Us](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/partnerships/) - [Learn More](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/) [Calculate](https://calculator.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/) [Donate](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/donate/) [Cart](https://calculator.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au) - Our Work - [Our Projects](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/our-work/) - [Community Planting Projects](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/our-work/community-planting-projects/) - [CarbonCare™](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/about-carbon/carboncare-program/) - Act Now - [Plant Trees](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/product/donate-trees/) - [Purchase Quick Offsets](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/product-category/quick-offsets/) - [Calculate Your Footprint](https://calculator.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/) - [Plant your Land](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/partnerships/plant-your-land/) - [Spread the Word](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/spread-the-word/) - [Partner with Us](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/partnerships/) - [Learn More](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/) [![Carbon Positive Australia](https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/CarbonPositiveAustralia_August2021/images/Carbon-Positive-Australia-RGB-Horizontal.png?width=300&height=90&name=Carbon-Positive-Australia-RGB-Horizontal.png "Carbon Positive Australia")](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/) X # Carbon Hero Feature: Byzantine Design ![bd180503_portraits-0115-768x512](https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/bd180503_portraits-0115-768x512.jpg?width=550&name=bd180503_portraits-0115-768x512.jpg) Dara started in the tile industry 20 years ago. She always had a dream to have her own business, which became a reality 6 years ago when she opened the doors to Byzantine Design in Prahran, Melbourne. Dara notes it as a great city to start a business in, as Melbournians really embrace and support local industries. Like most Entrepreneurs, Dara was driven by passion. Firstly, she grew up with a passion for design which developed from her initial dream of being an Archaeologist; and secondly, she always had a drive to do things differently. Her business model is based around Designers providing good service that leads to a more knowledgeable and personalised experience for clients.  Dara believes in the philosophy of ‘buy once and buy well,’ and when creating Byzantine Design, the need to incorporate an environmental policy for her business plan was a key motivator.   > *“For a number of years, I did not know what to do about the environment. I attended a Thanksgiving dinner with Kylie Lewis from OfKin, who encouraged me to start taking steps, however small they may be. I believe that if everyone does something, then things will start to change. It is the responsibility of every Small Business Owner to lead by example.  If I can do it, anyone can. I hope to inspire others”.    * > > *– Dara Shashoua, Owner* **How is Byzantine Making a Difference?** **Packaging** We are using compostable packaging for items sent out from our shop and we are working with suppliers, including ones we have in China, where they are now using recycled cardboard instead of plastic to package goods.  **Freight ** We constantly ship pallets between Sydney and Melbourne, and we ship each order separately. Currently, we are trialling some new systems and warehousing to bring bulk pallets to Melbourne which will then be shipped separately throughout Melbourne.  We have also decided to make a donation to landscape restoration through Carbon Positive Australia and alongside our freight Partner Customised Group who have agreed to match our donation, for every pallet shipped we will be making a donation to their native Australian planting projects.  CPOZ restores cleared and degraded sites around Australia back to natural habitat.   We are excited to update our customers on the number of trees we have contributed to and hope to let you know by the end of the year the number of hectares we have restored.  **Power** We have switched all our power to renewable energy sources. We constantly ship pallets between Sydney and Melbourne, and we ship each order separately. Currently, we are trialling some new systems and warehousing to bring bulk pallets to Melbourne which will then be shipped separately throughout Melbourne. We have also decided to make a donation to landscape restoration through Carbon Positive Australia and, alongside our freight Partner Customised Group who have agreed to match our donation, for every pallet shipped we will be making a donation to their native Australian planting projects.  Carbon Positive Australia restores cleared and degraded sites around Australia back to natural habitat.   ###### Share To: [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/carbon-heroes-byzantine-design) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/carbon-heroes-byzantine-design&text=Carbon%20Hero%20Feature:%20Byzantine%20Design) [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/carbon-heroes-byzantine-design) [Previous Planting in the Great Southern](https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/blog/planting-in-the-great-southern) [Next Why Carbon Positive? 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