Belinda & Amie Lyone

COS shares the importance of prioritising sustainability, and the company’s proven roadmap to achieving Net Zero Operations

Australian workers are putting purpose before pay, but only if the company is committed to lessening their carbon footprint and aiming to achieve Net Zero, new research reveals.

According to a nationally representative study of Australian employees commissioned by COS (Complete Office Supplies) – the country’s largest family-owned workplace supplies company – one in three employees (33%) say they would take a lower salary to work for a company with strong environmental and social credentials.

The findings highlight that younger Australians are leading the sustainability charge, with 44% of Gen Z and 38% of Millennials saying they would accept a lower salary to work for a company with strong environmental credentials, compared to just 22% of Gen X and 14% of Baby Boomers.

Yet fewer than half (46%) believe their employer has a genuine plan to reach Net Zero by 2050, with the main reasons for this doubt being business decisions still prioritise cost and growth over sustainability (57%), and a lack of transparency about measurable progress (24%).

“Younger generations are redefining workplace loyalty,” says Belinda Lyone, Co-CEO of COS. “They see sustainability as proof that a company is future-ready. It signals integrity and accountability. This research shows that a genuine ESG commitment isn’t just good for the planet, it’s critical for attracting and keeping great people.”

What businesses can learn from COS’s sustainability success

Having achieved Net Zero Operations and 100% Renewable Electricity across all their facilities nationwide from January to June in 2024, COS stands as one of the few companies to have turned sustainability targets into operational reality. The company’s national solar farm, electric delivery fleet in Canberra and trial in Sydney, smarter warehousing systems, and packaging redesign have cut emissions and waste while improving efficiency.

“For a privately owned business like COS, sustainability isn’t the easiest or cheapest path,” Lyone says. “It’s a long-term commitment to doing what’s right for our people, our customers, and the planet. Many of the initiatives we’ve invested in, from electric vehicles to renewable energy, come at a cost upfront, but they reflect what truly matters to us and the kind of business we want to be.”

Based on what COS has learned through years of driving sustainability improvements, COS share five actions any business can take to turn intent into impact:

1. Measure what matters: Start with accurate emissions data across operations, logistics, and supply chains.
2. Reduce before you offset: Target high-impact areas first, such as delivery fleets, packaging, and energy use.
3. Empower your people: Make sustainability a shared responsibility through staff programs and supplier partnerships.
4. Be transparent: Share progress publicly, even when challenges remain. Trust grows through honesty, not perfection.
5. Think long term: As a private, family-owned and operated business, COS can take a decades-long view, proving that sustainability is most powerful when it’s part of a legacy, not a quarterly report. However, companies of all sizes and scales can make progress by following the above roadmap.

“Reaching Net Zero operations with 100% renewable electricity was never the finish line; it’s the starting point for deeper action and meaningful reduction,” Lyone concludes. “If you want your people, customers, and communities to believe in your purpose, you have to prove it consistently and transparently. We’re proud of the progress we’ve achieved so far, and are committed to going even further.”

As part of that ongoing journey, COS is implementing the next stage of its decarbonisation journey to target Scope 3 emissions, working closely with suppliers, partners, and customers to reduce impacts across the entire value chain.

COS is Australia’s largest family-owned and operated workplace and education supplies business, led by second-generation sisters Belinda and Amie Lyone. Founded in 1977, COS has grown into an over $300 million national operation with over 700 staff and warehouses in every state and territory. The company achieved Net Zero operations with 100% Renewable Electricity from January to June in 2024 and donates 1% of annual revenue to the Lyone Foundation, supporting more than 130 Australian charities since 2013.

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