SM Prime Embarks on a Unified Waste Management Program for an #SMWasteFreeFuture

Scaled to perfection: One of the first recycling markets the country, Trash-to-Cash’s valuable example that waste can have monetary benefits. The recycling market is held every first Friday and Saturday of the month in all SM Supermalls to encourage waste segregation and recycling among SM customers, tenants, and the community. The recycling market is open from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

In response to the mounting waste crisis worldwide, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), one of the top integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, is starting a unified waste management and segregation campaign. SM Prime aims to bring all its property groups and stakeholders toward an #SMWasteFreeFuture. 

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that every year, people produce over 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste, of which 45 percent is improperly managed. In 2050, municipal solid waste will double to nearly 4 billion tons annually if nothing drastic is done. The International Day of Zero Waste was declared on March 30, 2022, by the United Nations General Assembly.

The First International Day of Zero Waste was established by UNEP the following year to support efforts to address the global pollution crisis. It seeks to raise awareness of zero waste and inspire global action. 

Strong foundations 

According to Henry Sy, the company's founder, "business growth and social development must go hand in hand." SM Prime adheres to this philosophy and has developed a sustainability policy that includes commitments to resource efficiency and conservation, disaster resilience, climate advocacy, social integration, and transparent reporting. 

The environmental programs on waste management of the SM Supermalls are anchored on these sustainability commitments. SM Supermalls has spearheaded numerous initiatives, including the Trash to Cash recycling market, and supported various national events, including the annual International Coastal Clean Up, through its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares.

The largest haul and biggest participation to-date: The 38th International Coastal Clean-up had 17,000 volunteers across 15 SM Malls in 12 locations nationwide. It is an annual community-driven partnership between SM Supermalls, SM Cares, the DENR, LGU’s and the volunteers from the SM community.

By introducing sustainable practices throughout all of its properties in the Philippines, SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) has taken the lead in the hotel and tourism industry's efforts to reduce global food waste. One of their main projects is the Sustainable Diner Program of the World Wide Fund for Nature, which aims to change the food service industry and assist in minimizing its environmental impact through resource efficiency, a rejection of plastic, and food waste management while also promoting global food security in the future. 

Closing the loop: SMHCC’s sustainability efforts are anchored on the 7Gs or Seven Green Goals, based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). The overall thrust for sustainability is cascaded to the rest of properties, ensuring that it is embedded at every step of the hotel’s operations, ensured by property Sustainability Champions.

Additionally, SM Prime recently announced its waste-to-fuel collaboration with GUUN Co. to support these initiatives. Ltd. (GUNN) to put the Japanese method of lessening the impact of landfills into practice. Packaging that is difficult or impossible to recycle is turned into alternative fuel by this technology. 

No time to waste: Sorting through the amount of trash at the GUUN Facility in Cebu. Unfit for recycling and reuse, the waste material recovered avoids the landfill and is then reconverted to fuel resource.

A Vision for an #SMWasteFreeFuture 

To mark the International Day of Zero Waste on March 30, 2024, SM Prime is releasing its vision for an #SMWasteFreeFuture.

“As a community, we strongly believe in our ability to contribute to solving today's waste issues. We understand that this may seem like a daunting challenge to overcome However, by joining forces, we can create a world that our future generations truly deserve – if we have the courage to take on this journey together.” ~Hans “Chico” Sy, Jr., President of SM Engineering Design and Development Corporation (SMEDD) and SM Sustainability Champion

With its announcement of its #SMWasteFreeFuture vision, SM Prime has demonstrated its strong commitment to sustainability stewardship. By inviting its stakeholders to participate in events that will promote zero-waste awareness and push for an environmentally sound and sustainable approach to waste management, the company is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.

As it continues to create creative and sustainable lifestyle cities, SM Prime is dedicated to its role as an engine for economic growth, improving the lives of millions of people in the process. SM Prime is working to create sustainable cities of the future by exploring the next frontier in integrated property development.