Bringing Innovation & Business through SUSTEX 2025
SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman Hans T. Sy and DOST Secretary Renato Solidum seal their commitment to environmental stewardship at the launch of the first-ever SM Sustainability Expo.
The first SM Sustainability Expo (SUSTEX 2025) was formally held at the SMX Convention Center Aura in Taguig by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. through SM Supermalls, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the ARISE Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies.
SM and DOST Leaders strike the Beat of Sustainability and lead the ceremonial Solidrum and angklung performance, symbolizing harmony and collective action at the inaugural Sustainability Expo 2025.
Over 50 exhibitors, representatives from government agencies, the commercial sector, the international community, and sustainability advocates gathered for the two-day event, which had as its theme “Innovation for Environmental Stewardship,” to present innovative solutions that promote a more resilient and environmentally friendly future.
Symbolic Opening: “Beat of Sustainability”
The Expo opened with the ceremonial “Beat of Sustainability,” led by DOST Secretary Renato Solidum and SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman Hans T. Sy, who together struck the Solidrum—a bamboo drum shell developed by the DOST – Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI).
They were joined by SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, SM Prime Vice President Jessica Sy-Bell, SM Supermalls Vice President Engr. Liza Silerio, and other dignitaries, who played the angklung, a UNESCO-recognized bamboo instrument. The performance symbolized harmony and collective action in advancing sustainability.
Leadership Perspectives
In his opening remarks, Hans T. Sy emphasized that sustainability lies at the heart of SM’s business and highlighted the importance of partnerships—“Public-private partnerships such as this show how science and business can unite to address some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. We encourage more of this as the private sector can provide support to projects by local scientists.”
Secretary Solidum echoed this view, noting that SUSTEX demonstrates how innovation and science can strengthen national resilience and drive a circular economy, as championed by similar DOST efforts.
“Through OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All, we ensure that the science, technologies and innovations we develop are not just theories in journals or prototypes in laboratories—they are real solutions, accessible to businesses, communities, and every Filipino. This is also what we mean by Agham na Ramdam—science that is not distant; science that is felt, lived, and experienced by people in their everyday lives,” Solidum shared.
“My call is simple: enough talk. We’ve had summits, forums, declarations that fill up shelves and inboxes. What we need now is proof. Businesses must set their sights on real, tangible goals—not pretty brochures, not slogans, but numbers you can measure, promises you can check.”
Mr. Hans Sy and Ms. Jessica Sy-Bell and visit the DOST-AKO Packaging booth at SUSTEX 2025, underscoring their support for innovative and sustainable packaging solutions.
Engaged discussions take place at the PARMS booth during SUSTEX 2025, aboutas visitors learn collaborative solutions for recycling and materials management.
Innovation Marketplace: Over 50 Exhibitors
SUSTEX 2025 featured more than 50 exhibitors showcasing technologies, initiatives, and products that reflect Filipino ingenuity and global collaboration. Notable exhibits included SM Prime and SM GUUN’s “Waste-Free Future” campaign, which highlighted their joint initiative with Japan’s GUUN Environmental Company on advanced waste management.
ARISE Philippines showcased efforts to advance disaster resilience through private sector collaboration. The DENR’s Loop Forward Program promoted circularity and large-scale waste reduction. The DOST-FPRDI centerpiece featured sustainable Lalang Pandan furniture, essential oils from Philippine plants, and bamboo musical instruments. Meanwhile, the DOST-CHRG presented innovations in electric vehicle technology.
A panel discussion at the Ignite Stage during SUSTEX 2025 gathers experts to share actionable insights on sustainability and innovation.
DOST leaders engage in a Fireside Chat at the Ignite Stage during SUSTEX 2025, sharing perspectives on science-led development and collaboration.
A Catalyst for Action
Running from August 29 to 30, the Expo featured interactive sessions, product showcases, and knowledge exchanges. The event reinforced SM’s continuing sustainability roadmap, including its Waste-Free Future campaign and commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2040.
“May this Expo be more than an event. May it be a catalyst for collaboration, a hub for practical solutions, and a reminder that business can be a force for good—when guided by purpose, discipline and partnership,” Sy concluded.
By incorporating green design, energy efficiency, disaster resilience, and environmental stewardship into its 88 malls in the Philippines, SM Supermalls—one of Southeast Asia’s largest mall developers—is celebrating 40 Super Years of Evolving with Every You. This evolution aims to create inclusive spaces that enhance communities, support climate action, and guarantee a better, more sustainable future for generations of Filipino shoppers.
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