Lifestyle

Volunteers from SM Supermalls—including employees, customer relations staff, and janitorial personnel—come together after a successful coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay, united by a shared commitment to protecting our oceans and building a #SMWasteFreeFuture.

As part of its weekly coastal cleanup operations, SM By the Bay rallied 272 staff members and volunteers to gather 1,147 kg of trash throughout the month of April, demonstrating its dedication to environmental care.

The company’s appeal for community-driven, communal action was reinforced by the weekly cleanliness drives along the Manila Bay shoreline, which were conducted by SM employees, customer relations staff, and custodial staff. In addition to bringing back the natural beauty of the shoreline, the project promoted environmental responsibility and ocean protection.

The campaign continues to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water, which emphasizes the protection of marine life and coastal ecosystems from pollution and degradation. As plastic and debris continue to threaten ocean biodiversity, efforts like these demonstrate that consistent community engagement can create long-term impact.

SM volunteers in action during the April coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay, working together to remove marine debris and protect our shoreline—one bag at a time.

Over a ton of trash collected by SM volunteers during the April 2025 coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay—each bag a step closer to a cleaner, healthier marine environment.

Through a spirit of volunteerism and purpose, the initiative also promoted camaraderie among SM stakeholders, who worked together toward a #SMWasteFreeFuture.

Participants from SM Supermalls take part in the April cleanup at SM By the Bay, showing that teamwork and purpose go a long way in protecting coastal communities.

Step by step, bag by bag—SM employees move with purposealong the SM By the Bay, turning their mornings into a meaningful mission for the environment.

To sustain this momentum, SM Cares is inviting the public to join the upcoming Coastal Cleanup in celebration of World Oceans Day on June 7, 2025.

Participating malls include: SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro, SM City Sta., SM By the Bay. Mesa, SM City CDO Downtown, SM City Tanza, SM City Lucena, SM City Lipa, SM City Bacolod, SM City Iloilo, SM City Davao, SM City Rosario, SM City Batangas, and SM Center Dagupan.

Because taking care of the Earth starts on our shores, let’s keep making every bag of trash collected matter.

Seniors and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are vulnerable during emergencies and disasters because of anxiety, health, and mobility limitations.

Months after the events, the aftershocks in Thailand and the 7.7-magnitude earthquakes in Myanmar are still having an impact. The most important query is posed: Are we ready for “The Big One”?

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), the top integrated property developer in Southeast Asia and one of the most catastrophe and climate risk-vulnerable nations, keeps reaffirming its dedication to disaster resilience and increased climate action.

The role of education

To increase the capacity of readiness within the institution and its communities, SM Prime continues to advocate for emergency preparedness and the general public’s continued education.

SM Cares, SM Prime’s foundation arm, facilitates the annual Emergency Preparedness Forum to help mallgoers learn about emergency procedures, putting importance on staying calm to reduce panic and anxiety, basic first aid, life-saving techniques, and preparing senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) in an actual emergency.

As the largest and fastest-growing residential sector developer, SM Development Corporation (SMDC)’s disaster preparedness training, Ready to Rescue, covers essential topics from fire and earthquake drills to water safety and first aid training programs to help residents face an emergency should it arise.

SM Development Corporation (SMDC)’s first aid and water safety training help residents respond effectively until first responders arrive.

Through SM Prime’s role within the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies Philippines (ARISE-Philippines), training and education opportunities on disaster risk reduction and resilience are made more accessible within the local network.

Together with ARISE Japan and India, two of the largest in the global community, knowledge sharing on the latest technologies in disaster risk reduction helps toward understanding large-scale disaster prevention and identifies opportunities for further improvement and response.

ARISE India, Japan, and the Philippines during the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR).

Collaborations for the climate

In a Climate Fresk Workshop with The Transmutation Principle, SM Prime, together with host SM Hotels, gathered friends from the corporate and non-profit sustainability space to learn more about the science behind climate change–its drivers, mechanisms, and consequences–including mitigation, adaptation, and circular economy principles.

Sustainability champions from corporate and non-government agencies together for a Climate Fresk Workshop at the SMX Convention Center Aura.

“It was an exciting and valuable experience for us, given our advocacy for climate change resilience. The workshop succeeded in making it more accessible and relatable, particularly for individuals who are already aware of its effects on their respective industries,” says Oscar M. Lopez (OML) Center participant Charmaine Vitan.

The gamified workshop originated from a French non-profit organization and is based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. Facilitated by local Philippine Freskers, it teaches the fundamentals of climate science – mapping key interdependencies between nature, biodiversity and human activities to ‘solve’ the complex narrative of climate change. The workshop was held at the SMX Convention Center Aura.

“It invited everyone–not just one sector–to collaborate and participate in fields of knowledge that are seemingly not connected at all. To quote a groupmate, the immediate causes and effects of market actions are clear, but the bigger picture is clear when we collaborate with one another,” says World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines participant Joaquin Campos.

Building a resilient tomorrow

Constantly ahead of the curve, SM Prime proactively considers what might lower risk and increase long-term value rather than just what the industry need right now.

An Environmental, Social, Governance, and Resilience (ESG + R) plan for SM Prime guarantees that the business is constructing for the safety of coming generations. In order to establish institutional preparedness and aid in educating and influencing public opinion, SM Prime is still concentrating its efforts on catastrophe risk management techniques, infrastructure resilience, preparedness and quick reaction, and capacity building.

SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman Hans Sy addresses members of ARISE Philippines during the first annual general meeting for 2025.

“Resilience is a way of life. It is a commitment to ensure that we act on our responsibility to care for others so that no one is left behind,” said Mr. Hans Sy, SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman.

With the MOA Sky walkway, SM Mall of Asia harnesses solar energy to deliver a combined 3MW of power —enough to run 1,000 escalators a day or power 1,800 homes for a month.

Sustainability is not just a claim for SM Prime; rather, it is a strategic necessity that permeates every aspect of the business’s operations. This is exemplified by tangible results that show the organization’s creativity and leadership in environmental initiatives, consistently producing quantifiable advancements in sustainability throughout its advances.

Through the extensive installation of renewable energy systems on its properties, integrating solar energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels from the grid, and aligning its operations with global climate goals, SM is further solidifying its commitment to environmental sustainability, which is anchored in its Net Zero 2040 goals.

As of early 2025, a total of 47 SM Supermalls nationwide are now outfitted with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, generating a combined peak capacity of 63 Megawatts. These systems comprise 118,313 solar panels installed across mall rooftops, contributing to a measurable reduction in carbon emissions and representing a significant benchmark in the advancement of renewable energy adoption within the Philippine commercial real estate sector.

SM Mall of Asia’s MOA Sky showcases a multi-use rooftop with a solar-covered walkway, contributing to their significant renewable energy capacity.

SM Mall of Asia’s MOA Sky showcases a multi-use rooftop with a solar-covered walkway, contributing to their significant renewable energy capacity.

SM Mall of Asia (MOA), one of the company’s flagship developments, exemplifies this commitment through its multi-use rooftop, MOA Sky. Among its features is a solar-covered walkway integrating 555 PV panels, contributing an additional 0.3-Megawatt peak capacity while offering shade to pedestrians. With a total of 11,355 panels now installed, SM MOA’s cumulative solar PV system delivers 3 Megawatts of peak power—enough to operate approximately 1,000 escalators for a day or provide electricity to 1,800 average households for a month.

SM’s renewable energy projects were prominently featured during the 2025 Energy Efficiency Day conference, where SM Engineering, Design, and Development Corporation Vice President Engr. Teodoro Bautista presented the group’s performance and ongoing efforts in operational energy efficiency. The initiative was also a key factor in SM MOA’s recognition as the recipient of the first Sustainable Energy Award for a Private Institution, organized by the Department of Energy, affirming the commercial viability and environmental value of large-scale solar adoption.

Solar-powered parasols at SM City Bicutan’s Sky Garden provide 4–5 hours of nighttime lighting after just 3 hours of daytime charging.

Integrating sustainability, SM City Bicutan offers solar-powered parasols with nighttime illumination in its Sky Garden.

Meanwhile, another SM mall, SM City Bicutan, recently introduced solar-powered parasols within its Sky Garden. These structures, designed with both function and form in mind, utilize solar energy to provide 4 to 5 hours of nighttime lighting after a 3-hour daytime charge. Beyond their energy efficiency, these installations reinforce the importance of integrating environmental considerations into the customer experience.

“Through these initiatives, we are able to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and create long-term operational savings for our malls, while simultaneously introducing innovative solutions towards a greener and brighter future for everyone,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.

Under the Net Zero 2040 vision, SM Prime’s shift to renewable energy is a crucial part of its climate action plan. In addition to providing quantifiable sustainability results that have a long-lasting positive environmental impact, the company continues to play a leading role in supporting national and international climate targets through the systematic decarbonization of its whole portfolio.