SM Prime: Creating infrastructure for plastic-free communities

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), global plastic manufacturing is expected to surpass 1,100 million tons by 2050, with serious environmental, social, economic, and human health implications.

As one of Southeast Asia's top integrated property developers, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) is dedicated to building vibrant, sustainable cities.

With a waste-free future as part of its environmental strategy, SM Prime supports International Plastic-free Day (May 25) and its request to rethink single-use plastics (SUP) for one day.  Furthermore, SM Prime praises the group's efforts to promote the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022.

The Recyclable, Disposable, and Compostable-labeled bins support SM's waste-free future initiative and align with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022.

A group-wide movement for the EPR Law

The SM group, in collaboration with its Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS), is implementing a company-wide strategy to comply with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) EPR Act of 2022.

The EPR law, also known as Republic Act 11898, mandates enterprises to recycle plastic packaging and implement waste management systems.

Recognizing the challenges and realities for businesses and on-the-ground operations through its EPR working group committee, the SM group commits to a five-year plan of action to reduce and recover its plastic footprint, share alternatives and new technologies to respond to growing global crises, and form partnerships with government agencies and other private institutions.

As the SM group's property arm, SM Prime's commitment to a trash-free future includes developing the infrastructure required to support and sustain plastic waste management programs.

SM Prime equips its premises with a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), as well as standardized waste segregation and management techniques, to help reduce the quantity of waste transferred to landfills.  SM GUUN Environmental Company, Inc. (SGECI), a joint venture with a Japanese environmental solutions company, turns non-recyclable waste into cement fuel or "fluff fuel" for eco-conscious cement companies such as APO Cement, Holcim, and Taiheiyo Cement as part of its "co-processing" practices.

SM GUUN converts disposable waste into fluff fuel, which helps unload overfilled and over-capacity landfills.

Beyond compliance

SM Prime continues to operate its established programs, such as the nationwide Trash to Cash recycling market.  Since 2007, it has been one of SM Supermalls' hallmark activities, and it is becoming increasingly relevant as the years pass.

Available in all 87 SM malls, the Trash to Cash program has since been recognized as a rewarding community-driven practice for surrounding residents and mall tenants.

Trash to Cash activates SM malls to assist their communities with sorted plastic waste by incentivizing the exchange of recyclables and providing a place for plastic recovery.  Fifteen SM Plastic Waste Collection sites also function as drop-off locations for clean, empty, and dry plastics.  Furthermore, the Solid Waste Action Program (SWAP) reverse vending machines at SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia allow for the diversion of high-value plastic products such as aluminum cans and polyethylene terephthalate bottles (PET).

The annual International Coastal Clean-up (ICC), sponsored by SM Cares, continues to inspire volunteers to join this global effort for a record-breaking project.  In 2024 alone, SM Cares assisted in mobilizing 23,000 employees, students, and members of diverse communities to participate in nationwide volunteer operations to clean up the world's beaches and rivers.

Volunteers participate in the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) for a shared cause, with sign-ups increasing each year.

Hamilo Coast, known for its Marine Protected Areas and its commitment to living in harmony with nature, together with employees, guests, and residents, recovers plastic waste during beach clean-ups.

Aiming for a waste-free future

Reduction is always the greatest choice.  The SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) has long since removed SUPs from all of its facilities in support of the UNEP's drive to phase them out.  Pico Sands Hotel was also one of the first hotels to partner with the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF) in their Ayoko Na Sa Plastic Campaign in 2018.

SMHCC has successfully replaced all single-use amenities, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) shampoo and shower gel bottles, as well as PET water bottles, in its hotel rooms.  Bamboo or starch-based environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic cutlery have been advocated by the SMX Convention Centers from 2019, as part of its standards to support sustainable event management practices.

“Our work is never done. There are new technologies, innovative solutions, and more avenues for collaboration to look forward to in making the EPR Act work for our communities. But we all have a role to play--it is every individual’s responsibility to create a waste-free future.” ~Engr. Liza Silerio, Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Program Director of SM Cares for Environment

Working together as a group to mitigate the effects of the plastic waste crises has a stronger influence on a larger scale.  SM Prime intends to successfully divert a greater proportion of plastic waste away from landfills by implementing improved waste management systems, better waste segregation techniques, and proactive community efforts.