SM Southmall in the late 90’s. Located in the water-challenged area of Las Pinas, the mall was the first to have a sewage treatment plant (STP) for water recycling. It opened to the public in 1995, followed by SM Bacoor in 1997, saving a significant volume of water otherwise used for flushing.
Since its first efforts, water stewardship at SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) has advanced significantly. The programmatic Water for Tomorrow campaign goes beyond effective water management and recycling as part of its environmental sustainability plan.
For SM Supermalls, any significant investment in water security is a good chance to benefit people and the environment because of this pressing call to action to safeguard and preserve a vital resource.
Amplified impact
With 89 malls nationwide, SM Supermalls high-impact yet practical water management systems and circularity practices build long-term capacity for future water disruptions and reflect the malls’ greater ecosystem.
A community solution. At the launch of SM City Baguio’s Rainwater Treatment Facility
(RTF), innovation meets sustainability and sets a benchmark for water efficiency.
Having introduced sewage treatment plants nearly three decades ago, well before any compliance requirements, SM Supermalls also made significant investments in efficient low-flow fixtures and water-saving technologies to prevent unnecessary consumption at scale. In 2023, the first rainwater treatment facility by a mall opened in Baguio to convert rainwater into another potable resource, alleviating pressure on the local water grid.
At a cultural level, SM Supermalls becomes a living sustainability classroom where mallgoers, employees, and tenant-partners are made aware of its water, waste, and energy programs. Partnerships with NGOs, government agencies, and civic groups also sustain water conversations through the mall’s broad reach and are crucial to the sustainability agenda.
SM Cares engages communities, mallgoers, and tenants in water conservation initiatives
that inspire mindful consumption and collective action.
Embedding the message of water sustainability, SM Cares champions UN SDG6 – using every mall touchpoint and social media to create content on water conservation, access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for health and well-being
Water sustainability is a shared responsibility across all SM malls. SM Cares engages and promotes water conservation initiatives that inspire mindful consumption and collective action.
As a vital community hub, the malls promote the wider SM Green Movement campaign, empowering people to practice responsible water use.
The first mall to receive LEED Gold Certification in 2017, SM Aura’s wastewater treatment plant and smart water management technologies ensure responsible and efficient water use.
Building what matters, today
The vital significance of water promotes economic development and human activity. SM Prime’s holistic approach to water management prepares for future difficulties as climate issues intensify and impact water availability.
SM Supermalls helps larger partner-tenants with more than just compliance and profitability. In the same vein, it encourages the adoption of creative solutions by smaller companies and other stakeholders who rely on mall operations.
“The scale of what we are doing today for water is already proof that we are reaping the benefits of the innovative vision of our leadership,” says Steven T. Tan, President of SM Supermalls.
“What makes our programs truly meaningful is how they bring people and purpose together. It creates a ripple effect of sustainability that reaches beyond our walls,” said Tan. ###
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