The HSH Chemie Group has published its first VSME Sustainability Report. This report offers a comprehensive and transparent view of its Group-wide ESG and sustainability activities, achievements, and challenges.
Advancing ESG transparency through HSH Chemie Group’s 2025 VSME Sustainability Report.
With the publication of its first VSME Sustainability Report for 2025, HSH Chemie Group marks a major milestone in its sustainability journey. Prepared in accordance with the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME), the report reflects the company’s commitment to building a more structured, transparent, and measurable approach to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics across Central and Eastern Europe.
The report brings together ESG and sustainability information from across the Group. It establishes a shared baseline for future development and supports the HSH Chemie Group’s ambition to integrate sustainability more systematically into its business activities.
For HSH Chemie Group, the report is guided by three important principles: transparency,
responsibility and growth. It is not the end of the Group’s sustainability journey, but the beginning of a continuous improvement process and a stronger foundation for sustainability management across the Group.
As a leading specialty chemicals distributor operating in 14 countries, HSH Chemie Group has long recognized that economic success and responsible business practices must go hand in hand. The first VSME Sustainability Report reflects this understanding and provides stakeholders with a transparent overview of the company’s ESG and sustainability priorities within responsible chemical distribution.
For the first time, sustainability-related data from across the Group has been consolidated and assessed under one common reporting framework. This creates greater visibility, improves comparability between countries and strengthens the foundation for informed decision-making.
By establishing a shared ESG baseline, HSH Chemie Group can better identify progress, address gaps and develop the next steps in its ESG strategy and sustainability journey.
Several key themes emerge throughout the report. On the environmental side, HSH Chemie Group presents its first Group-wide greenhouse gas inventory, reporting 690.8 tonnes of CO₂e emissions across Scope 1 and Scope 2.
The company also reports on energy consumption, water use, biodiversity considerations and waste generation. At the same time, HSH Chemie Group openly acknowledges that environmental reporting, ESG data collection and monitoring will continue to evolve.
Building reliable sustainability data across an international Group is a complex process. By establishing this first baseline, HSH Chemie Group creates a practical foundation for improving data quality, monitoring future progress, strengthening sustainability management and gradually developing measurable sustainability targets.
Social responsibility forms another important pillar of the report. HSH Chemie Group’s workforce grew to 337 employees, with a particularly strong representation of women, who account for approximately 62% of the workforce.
The report highlights investments in employee development, health and safety, digital training platforms and human rights protections. These efforts are supported by a Group-wide Code of Conduct and whistleblowing system, helping to strengthen responsible business practices across the organization.
By focusing on people, training and workplace responsibility, HSH Chemie Group highlights that sustainability extends beyond environmental issues. It is also about building a resilient, skilled and responsible organization for the future.
Governance and compliance monitoring also play a central role in the VSME Sustainability Report. The report demonstrates how established compliance monitoring structures, anti-corruption measures and responsible business conduct are embedded throughout the organization. It also demonstrates HSH Chemie Group’s commitment to ethical decision-making, transparency, accountability, corporate governance and long-term responsibility toward employees, partners, suppliers and customers.
In addition, the HSH Chemie Group holds a range of certifications across different countries and business units. These certifications cover quality management, environmental management, food safety, responsible care initiatives and sustainable sourcing standards, as well as EcoVadis. Together, they illustrate the HSH Chemie Group’s sustainable focus across different areas and show how responsible business practices are aligned with recognized standards and systems.
Perhaps most importantly, the report is characterized by its honest and pragmatic approach. Rather than claiming perfection, HSH Chemie Group openly discusses current limitations in data availability and varying levels of ESG maturity across subsidiaries. The report also addresses the challenges of creating a harmonized reporting system across an international organization.
Looking ahead, HSH Chemie Group aims to further enhance ESG data quality, strengthen sustainability governance, improve collaboration across countries, advance sustainability management and gradually develop measurable targets. This reflects the company’s commitment to continuous improvement, future readiness and a long-term sustainable focus.
For HSH Chemie Group, responsible growth, long-term thinking and sustainable business practices are becoming an increasingly important part of the company’s corporate identity in Central and Eastern Europe.
We invite you to join us on this journey by following our progress on our website, LinkedIn and Facebook. Download our VSME Sustainability Report 2025 to learn more about HSH Chemie Group’s ESG strategy and sustainability achievements, environmental reporting and future sustainability priorities.