Social Responsibility

Social Responsibility

In a world of constant change, one thing is for certain, we all have the power to influence and to make a positive impact. Life and business are not mutually exclusive for us at COS. We’re a family run business and since opening our doors over forty-five years ago, we have worked together to use our influence for positive change.

We Give Back

We’re passionate about sharing our success with our fellow Australians, we are committed to supporting local Australian charities focused on human welfare, through the Lyone Foundation.

With our customers support, COS has pledged over $15 million to the Lyone Foundation so far. And with your ongoing support, we pledge a further $1M minimum per year, to support local Australian charities.

The Lyone Foundation was created in 2013 as the legacy of the Lyone family after their journey from Egypt to Australia. The Foundation allows the family to repay the kindness and support they received on their arrival in Australia, providing them with a platform to thrive in their new country.

By choosing COS you can make a difference in the lives of others.

Find the latest news on the Foundation and donations here.

“Every one of our customers, however large or small, has contributed to the growth and success of the Lyone Foundation. By engaging with COS you can make a direct difference to the lives of others.” ~ Dominique Lyone

Indigenous Engagement

We are excited to be part of a positive movement creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their communities, businesses and suppliers. Our Indigenous brands are hand-picked for their strong commitment to giving back within local communities and our range has grown to include office stationery, copy paper and kitchen supplies.

Muru Range

Committed to creating pathways for future generations, Muru Group is the only truly national Indigenous owned and operated office products company in Australia.Exclusive to COS.

yaru water

Yaru Water

Yaru Water is a social enterprise that tells an important cultural story, whilst creating better health outcomes for Indigenous communities through the Yaru Foundation.

Corporate Connect.AB

Corporate Connect.AB

Featuring the stunning artwork of Aboriginal artist Keith Brown, all purchases from this collection goes towards the Indigenous community, to enhance social and economic conditions.

Earth Blends

Committed to giving back & creating meaningful outcomes for Indigenous Australians. Has over 70 years’ experience & partnerships with Karden LOOP & FreshFood. Make a positive social impact.

“Each purchase of a Muru product provides direct social and economic support to Indigenous communities.”

Supporting Social Enterprise

The decision to buy from a social enterprise can deliver huge benefits to individuals and communities and is one of the most effective ways to break the cycle of disadvantage and strengthen Australian communities. The power of buying socially means that every time goods and services are bought from a social enterprise, positive change is also created.

Social Traders is the trailblazer of Social Enterprise procurement in Australia, using their sector intelligence to disrupt ‘business-as-usual’ and make buying from Social Enterprises the norm, they connect Certified Social Enterprises with Business and Government Members. Activating the power of Social Enterprise procurement creates positive impact through jobs, community services and support for those who need it most.

Their vision is to create a thriving Social Enterprise sector for a more inclusive and equitable Australia, and their mission is to work collaboratively to integrate Social Enterprises into business and Government supply chains. Their 10-year plan includes unlocking more than $5B in demand, enabling social enterprises to create over 44,000 jobs, delivering 6 million training hours, plus community services and donations of $128M. They plan to scale and embed social enterprise procurement nationally, driving major reforms in government and business procurement policy over the next decade.

fairtrade

Fairtrade

Fairtrade ANZ is an active member of the global Fairtrade system and works directly with businesses, consumers and campaigners to make trade fair by securing a better deal for farmers and workers.

who gives a crap

Who Gives A Crap

Making super-soft, 100% recycled toilet paper, and donating 50% of profits to rebuild toilets in the developing world. Good for your bum and great for the world!

Thankyou

Thank You

Owned solely by the Thankyou Charitable Trust. Thankyou commits 100% of profits to fund sustainable development projects, with the goal of ending glob al poverty in this lifetime.

Eco-Conscious Operation

Together with our large customer and supplier network, we’re developing smarter, more sustainable solutions to reduce our carbon footprint and other environmental impacts. Our goal is zero emissions, and we’ve already made significant progress towards this goal by installing hundreds of solar panels across our warehouses giving us the industry’s largest solar farm.

Eco-conscious Range

Eco Conscious Range

We offer an expansive range of eco-conscious products designed to make sustainable choices easy and part of your every day life. All it takes is just a few small changes to create real, positive change, and reduce the harmful effects businesses can have on the environment.

Our Suppliers
Our Suppliers

We scrutinise every element of our supply chain and only work with socially responsible suppliers committed to meeting our sustainability criteria. Working with our suppliers to reduce plastic has helped us to remove over 600,000 pieces of plastic across the COS private label range in the last year.

Our Logistics
Our Logistics

With a vision of sustainable logistics, we are tackling these issues across our operations:

  • Fleet upgrade now produces 70% less carbon
  • Solar farm has saved an equivalent of 5000 trees
  • Paperless picking has saved 130 trees
  • Increased our waste to recycling ratio by 4%

Environmental Certification

  • EU Ecolabel

    EU Ecolabel

  • Good Environmental Choice Australia

    Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA)

  • Australian Certified Organic

    Australian Certified Organic

  • AFRDI

    AFRDI

  • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

    Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

  • Fairtrade

    Fairtrade

  • Rainforest Alliance

    Rainforest Alliance

  • UTZ Certified

    UTZ Certified

  • Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)

    Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)

  • ENERGY STAR

    ENERGY STAR

  • CRI

    CRI