The world we live on is pretty special. It's the only one we have.
When Cosy was founded, sustainability and social value were put at the heart of the company. We take full responsibility for our impact.
Real, quantifiable sustainability. Not just words.
The education supply industry is full of companies shouting about sustainability while making products from single-use plastic. These products rack up huge distances between factory, warehouse and customer. Madness.
It doesn't have to be this way.
You have a choice about who you work with. Choose Cosy. Not just because we believe children deserve inspiring natural environments. But because we're a partner who puts our planet, and the people on it, first.
We're based on a lovely greenfield site on the Derbyshire / Staffordshire border. If you're in the area, pop in for a coffee and meet the team.
Business4Nature Project
We're proud to be part of Business4Nature. A collaboration between the University of Derby, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the East Midlands Chamber — bringing businesses together to drive real solutions for nature recovery and biodiversity.
ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems
Cosy is ISO 14001 certified. The gold standard for sustainability. Our assessor said we go beyond 95% of companies assessed. We liked him a lot. So did our goats.
"Biophilia is shown to reduce stress and boredom, keep students engaged, and improve the academic success of students. Integrating a culture of sustainability is critical for schools who are considering using biophilic design."
- THE GREEN BUILDING ALLIANCE
Sustainability in practice
FSC® timber
We use FSC® certified timber where possible. Protecting healthy, resilient forests. For all, forever.
No single-use plastic
Ever. We use natural materials in biophilic designs.
Made close to home
95% of our resources are manufactured in the UK and Europe.
Minimal waste
We design products to reduce manufacturing waste — including a free wood crate at our warehouse for local carpenters.
Continuous improvement
We redesign 200 products each year to reduce carbon in our deliveries.
Plastic-free packaging
We have an ongoing project to eliminate plastic from all our packaging.
Zero waste to landfill
We recycle all our business waste. Every bit of it.
Solar powered
Our solar panels generate 60,000 kWh per year. That's enough to make 4.8 million slices of toast.* Who doesn't love toast?
Smart lighting
Motion sensors throughout save around 31 tonnes of carbon a year.
Bees
12,000 busy bees work hard in our hives to produce around 20kg of honey every year.
Paper, not plastic
We wrap our catalogues in paper rather than the industry standard plastic.
Rainwater harvesting
We collect rainwater and use it for our on-site tree nursery.
*The toast calculations. We're serious about backing up our claims. Even the outlandish ones.
120 × 40,000 = 4.8 million slices of toast
We based our numbers on the Morphy Richards Illumination — a Which? Best Buy four-slice toaster rated at 1,500w. That gives us 40,000 hours of toasting time from our 60,000 kWh of solar energy.
We surveyed the team on their ideal toast time. Answers ranged from a concerning one minute to a more respectable three. The average? Two minutes. That's 120 slices an hour.
120 × 40,000 = 4.8 million slices of toast.
What we do day to day
Make sustainability a habit. Not a one off
Car sharing
Cycle to work
Tend to our 80,000 bees
EV driving
Feed our goats
Feed our goats
Social Value
"Everyone has the potential to contribute."
Everyone has the potential to contribute to society. Regardless of age, sex, gender or life experience. At Cosy, we believe that wholeheartedly, and it shapes the way we work and the communities we're part of.
In a world of extremes, we're here to make a positive difference. To the people we work with. To the communities around us. Easy to say. Harder to prove. When we say something, we mean it.
Everything we do is tied to the themes of the Social Value Model (2020). Tackling economic inequality, fighting climate change, equal opportunity and wellbeing. You can see how these link to the UN Sustainability Goals below.
The Cosy Foundation
Children should have rich experiences, chances to explore the world, and chances to shine.
10% of Cosy's profits go to the Cosy Foundation. Here's where it goes.
UK
300 children given holidays via Derby Kids Camp
600+ children reached through sports grants
800 volunteering hours in 2024 Big Help Out
200 girls empowered at Derby County FC
Around the World
200+ children given access to education in Gambia
15 students' lives transformed in Kenya
20+ young people supported in Tanzania
Everyone has potential
Everyone, no matter who they are, have then potential to positively contribute.
Diversity is not just a word for us; it's a cornerstone of our strength. Our team spans generations, from ages 17 to 70.
Women
Returning citizens
Carers
Additional needs
Members of the Armed Forces
Fresh Starts
Everyone deserves a fresh start
7% of Employees are prisoners on day release
In doing so, we not only contribute to societal rehabilitation but also create opportunities for those looking to rebuild their lives.
We believe in second chances and the transformative power of meaningful employment. We don't just build careers; we empower lives with purpose and dignity.
Built around people
3 Day Volunteering
3 paid volunteering days for every Cosy employee, every year. Since 2024, our amazing team has taken part in our annual Cosy Bike & Hike. We have raised over £140,000 in support of children’s holiday charities. This is Derbyshire’s biggest multi-discipline fundraiser.
1 in 3 Flexible Working
1 in 3 Cosy employees work part-time. We offer flexible working, such as term-time, part-time contracts. In fact, nearly a third of our workforce is part-time. This allows them to balance their career with personal responsibilities or commitments.
100% Investing in our People
100% of our team receives personalised training every year. Cosy employ apprentices at level 3, 4 and 6 throughout the business, ensuring that our younger staff can earn while they learn. We also work with Transition 2, an organisation that provide bespoke and meaningful transition programmes that allow young learning disabled people to segue into opportunities in life as active citizens.
UN Sustainability Goals
All our sustainability decisions are made with the UN sustainability goals in mind. We've chosen to align ourselves with the following goals:
Goal 4
Quality Education
Responsibly sourced products that inspire creative, healthy play and support children's learning and social development.
Goal 5
Gender Equality
We champion equal pay, female leadership, and flexible working so parents never have to choose between career and family.
Goal 9
Decent Work and Economic Growth
We proudly partner with SMEs; 70% of our suppliers are small, family-run or owner-operated businesses, making up 78% of our sales.
Goal 10
Reduced Inequalities
We hire inclusively; welcoming those needing flexible hours, working with prisoners on day release (ROTL), and ensuring 20% of our workforce are part-time.
Goal 4
Responsible Consumption and Production
Designed for longevity and learning, our products encourage problem-solving and creativity across multiple uses, with recycled and upcycled materials, keeping waste and carbon low.
