Since 1964, SANHA has stood for innovative innovative piping systems. The products manufactured by this family-owned company are used in many sectors, including building services, refrigeration, fire protection, and numerous industrial applications such as technical gases. SANHA attaches great importance to safety and environmental responsibility. Around 70 percent of the products are manufactured in the company's own factories, which guarantees quality, short transport routes, and sustainable production. Since its capital market debut in 2013, the iron team has been supporting SANHA as a strategic advisor for investor relations and financial communications.
In an interview with iron, Anna Latos, Group Quality & Energy Manager, and Krystyna Irenkiewicz, HSE & ESG Manager at SANHA, provide exciting insights into how economic success and ESG responsibility can be combined.
iron: ESG is currently under pressure – many medium-sized companies are putting the brakes on. What are the reasons why SANHA nevertheless consistently prioritizes this issue?
Anna Latos: For SANHA, sustainability is not a passing trend, but a long-term strategy that we have been working on for years, as our products and our sustainable corporate management demonstrate. We are aware of the fact that only companies that take on ecological and social responsibility will be competitive in the future. We therefore regard ESG issues as an investment in the resilience of our company, in the safety of our employees and customers, and in sustainable relationships, rather than as additional costs.
iron: In 2024, SANHA was awarded the EcoVadis Silver rating. What specific measures were decisive for this rating – and how is sustainability specifically anchored in production and procurement today?
Krystyna Irenkiewicz: We have been working towards this rating for years by pursuing a sustainable approach to ESG issues and implementing specific projects, including: modernizing facilities, reducing energy consumption, optimizing production processes, strictly controlling the supply chain, and introducing ISO standards in the area of quality and energy management. As we are aware of the changes that sustainable development entails, we already have environmental declarations (EPDs) for our products.
We are also currently in the process of having our environmental management certified according to ISO 14001. Since our founding, our employees have been an integral part of our corporate policy. This is reflected in the promotion of their development through training, ensuring equal opportunities and team integration, and in an established integrated management system that covers occupational health and safety in accordance with ISO 45001 – currently still without certification.
This is proof that sustainable development permeates all areas at SANHA, from purchasing and production to customer service and product management.
iron: Where do you see the concrete benefits of the EcoVadis rating – for example, with customers, in tenders, or in international business? What doors has the silver rating opened for you?
Anna Latos: The silver rating from EcoVadis reflects our activities in the area of ESG and has opened up new opportunities for us by creating prospects for development not only in Europe but also on global markets. Today, it is an important point of cooperation in tenders, discussions with customers, suppliers, and also banking institutions. For current and potential business partners, this is objective proof that the company not only talks about ESG but also takes action.
We currently hold the EcoVadis Silver award and are undergoing the next assessment –with the goal of achieving Gold.
iron: What standards does SANHA use to measure its own ESG progress – and what goals have you set for 2030?
Krystyna Irenkiewicz: Our activities are monitored in accordance with recognized international standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 50001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and the GHG Protocol guidelines for calculating the CO2footprint. SANHA is currently preparing to publish its first ESG report, which will be prepared in accordance with the guidelines of the ESRS standards. Our goal is to achieve a reduction in our CO2emissions of almost 30% by 2030 compared to the base year 2019. Our company continuously invests in increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies. We also use recycled materials, subject our suppliers to comprehensive ESG criteria reviews, and promote a culture of safety and professional development among our employees. The implementation of a digital reporting and control system has enabled optimized management of energy, processing materials, and production. These measures contribute to reducing the consumption of natural resources and the generation of unnecessary CO2emissions.
iron: Thank you for the detailed insights in the interview.
