Ishani Ranasinghe, Head of Group Sustainability and Corporate Communications of Hemas Holdings PLC, explains how Hemas Group has integrated sustainability into its core to create a meaningful and lasting impact on the environment, society, and the well-being of all stakeholders.
How does Hemas Group integrate sustainability into its business practices and operations?
We have established a robust sustainability management framework after taking into consideration findings from an internal materiality assessment and external stakeholder engagement exercise. It is a practical guide to translating sustainability principles into tangible corporate practices towards achieving a sustainable business that encompasses a well-defined structure fully supported by senior management. Additionally, we have appointed a dedicated team of ESG Champions who represent each subsidiary and play a vital role in driving sustainability initiatives. To facilitate data gathering and analysis, we utilize a comprehensive sustainability data gathering platform and implemented a quarterly reporting process to track and evaluate performance to ensure transparency and accountability.
We also actively engage in sustainability awareness campaigns to promote a culture of sustainability throughout Hemas. Furthermore, we undergo internal and external sustainability assurance processes, ensuring the credibility and reliability of our sustainability reporting process.
Integral to the framework is the benchmarking of ESG indicators and targets, and this strategic approach enables us to identify and select the most relevant and feasible sustainability initiatives. By leveraging the information derived from this framework, we can comprehensively assess our sustainability performance, identify potential risk areas, and implement necessary corrective actions. Sustainability is dynamic by nature. Therefore, our sustainability management framework undergoes regular reviews and updates to ensure it remains aligned with the core requirements of our business units, enabling us to enhance our sustainability practices.
How would you define Hemas’ sustainability philosophy?
At Hemas, sustainability is integral to our culture, values and operations. We recognize that creating sustainable value is essential for long-term success and the well-being of all our stakeholders.
Our Group Sustainability Policy encompasses the environment, society, and the economy. It reflects our commitment to taking proactive measures to prevent potential risks and mitigate their impact on our stakeholders and the environment.
Can you share Hemas’ long-term sustainability goals and targets, how the company tracks and reports progress towards achieving them, and how they translate to business growth?
Our sustainability goals and targets are part of the robust sustainability management framework we have in place. In recent years, we have made remarkable progress in sustainability, setting goals and implementing initiatives that deliver positive impacts. Our sustainability strategy is designed to drive continuous improvement of Hemas’ ESG Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) through a combination of centralized efforts and targeted initiatives specific to each business unit. To ensure a well-rounded and holistic approach to sustainability, we have both centralized and decentralized strategies in place. The ESG performance of each location drives the overall ESG strategy within the Group, while continuous monitoring and performance assessment of ESG KPIs at each business unit level lead to various smallscale ESG initiatives.
As a part of our ESG strategy, the Group launched an Environmental Agenda, which revolves around protecting and sustaining all that is Sri Lankan. In collaboration with the Wildlife Nature Protection Society (WNPS), we are actively working to protect 52 critically endangered endemic species in the country.
We emphasise responsible plastic consumption and have taken steps to reduce plastic usage in our products and ensure proper disposal of plastic waste. Furthermore, we prioritize safeguarding our ecosystem through forest restoration efforts and conserving natural resources by reducing water consumption and transitioning to renewable energy at locations with significant operations.
Our purpose-led initiatives empower families, eliminate inequality, and create positive societal impacts. These initiatives include the H.E.R Foundation, which tackles period poverty by educating Sri Lankan women on menstrual health and empowering them to prioritize their well-being. We also have programmes like Atlas Sip Savi, providing equal learning opportunities for underprivileged children, and Say Yes to Life, focused on raising awareness about diabetes and supporting early management within communities. Additionally, initiatives such as Kumarika Sonduru
Diriywanthi provides natural hair wigs to women battling cancer, Diva Dathata Diriya empowers female entrepreneurship, and Piyawara supports early childhood care and development for underprivileged children through the Hemas Outreach Foundation. Our Ayati programme enables children with disabilities to become productive members of society, and our Upakara initiative contributes to the health and well-being of individuals from underprivileged communities by offering free monthly dialysis cycles to selected chronic
By integrating sustainability into our business practices, we can enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, manage risks, drive innovation, and strengthen relationships with customers who prioritize sustainable products. This translates to business growth through improved brand reputation, increased sales, and operational cost savings, creating a positive synergy between sustainability and economic benefits.