A leading outdoor educational resource provider is going to right royal lengths to be sustainable and community-facing.
Cosy Direct has installed 220 solar panels, employs three designers to reduce the carbon footprint of its products and has supplied more than 1,000 trees from its micronursery.
Rainwater is harvested, all company vehicles are electric, all products are classified by distance to deliver and 17 per cent of products are “near nature” or upcycled.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester recently visited the Burton upon Trent-based business to find out more about its to innovative approach to sustainability.
In addition Cosy Direct is the holder of a 2022 Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its sustainable achievements.
An important additional factor in the bestowal of the award was Cosy Direct’s core belief in social levelling through education.
The global supplier of nursery and educational equipment is a supporter of Derby Kids’ Camp, which provides free holidays to local youngsters most in need of a break.
As patrons of the charitable enterprise, they have provided them with equipment and logistics support, as well as buying their site to secure its future.
Cosy Direct, which runs the Cosy charitable fund, prioritises a greener approach to both business and play.
It uses local small and medium-sized businesses to supply the majority of its products.
Its educational equipment incorporates some of the world’s most natural and low process goods.
Peter Ellse, CEO and founder of Cosy Direct, who is also a deputy lieutenant of Derbyshire, said: “Since our inception in 2011, Cosy has put sustainability at the centre of its existence.
“Built with the aim to incorporate more nature into ever-increasing indoor childhoods, we sought to move away from the high carbon, single-use plastics that dominate the industry.
“The Duke and Duchess were incredibly generous with their time – we share a love of product, nature and innovation.”
Cosy Direct supplies 25,000 schools with more than 100,000 items of gardening and nature equipment.
It clinched the “Business of the Year” title at the Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards in 2022.
A video of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester’s visit:
To read the Daily Focus article about Cosy Direct’s Business Award click here.
