Snigel, which develops and produces equipment for the defence and security sector, sees a clear connection between sustainability, delivery capability, and how production is organised. The acquisition of a factory in Latvia is a step towards taking greater responsibility for the entire value chain, from development to finished product.

– We have had a close collaboration with the factory in Latvia for a considerable time, and when the opportunity to acquire it arose, it became a natural step in our development, says Malin Hlawatsch Plaude, CEO of Snigel.

Through greater ownership of production, the company gains better conditions to influence both how products are developed and how they perform in use. This also creates increased flexibility in how production can be adapted and developed over time.

A large part of Snigel's impact lies in the supply chain, where production takes place both in Europe and in Asia. Within the textile industry, this means that a significant portion of the carbon footprint is found in so-called Scope 3 emissions, that is, indirect greenhouse gas emissions from sources that the company does not own or control. This places demands on thorough work across the entire process, from design and material selection to production and use. Since 2025, Snigel has been a member of the UN Global Compact Network.

At the factory in Latvia, Snigel sees several concrete opportunities to develop production. These include reviewing energy sources, working more systematically with transport, and reducing dependence on newly produced materials as technology is modernised.

– It is a step towards taking greater responsibility for the whole, where we can both understand and influence developments in a more concrete way, says Malin Hlawatsch Plaude.

As production moves closer to the organisation, work on traceability, working conditions, and quality control is strengthened. The factory operates according to several different standards in order to maintain good working processes and high quality. To ensure that the business plan and governance go hand in hand, the factory has already implemented ISO 9001 and also plans to implement ISO 14001 and 45001 as part of its continued development work.

A greater share of production within Europe also provides better opportunities to meet changing needs and requirements from customers, not least with regard to lead times and flexibility in the supply chain.

Snigel regards the factory in Latvia as a central part of the company's continued development.

– It strengthens our capacity and gives us better conditions in the supply chain, while also allowing us to work in a more coordinated manner on the areas we consider most essential in our sustainability efforts, says Malin Hlawatsch Plaude.