One Year, One Vision: SM Prime’s Bold March Toward a Waste-Free Future

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a nation grappling with the staggering weight of over 60,000 metric tons of daily waste, a new chapter has begun—one that could redefine how the Philippines tackles environmental sustainability. In 2024, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) took a decisive leap forward with the launch of its “SM Waste-Free Future” initiative, signaling not just a corporate campaign, but a nationwide movement towards lasting change.

Now, one year in, the results are both inspiring and urgent—a powerful reminder that sustainability is not a luxury, but a responsibility.

The Ground Zero of Green Change

It all began at the iconic SM Mall of Asia. With towering ambition and a clear-eyed focus, SM Prime unveiled its flagship environmental sustainability program aimed at reducing overall waste generation through effective segregation, diversion from landfills, and sustainable disposal practices.

But this wasn’t just a token effort. In just twelve months, the SM Waste-Free Future program expanded across the vast SM Prime ecosystem—malls, residences, office buildings, hotels, convention centers, and estates—nationwide. It was a rapid rollout that few could have imagined, let alone operationalized, but SM Prime did just that.

By integrating waste segregation systems rooted in the RDC model—Recyclable, Disposable, Compostable—SM made waste management simple, visual, and universal. Clear bins with vivid labels now line hallways, food courts, and lobbies, encouraging customers, tenants, and employees alike to “bin it right.”

A Ripple That Became a Wave

The movement didn’t stop at the doorstep of SM Prime. What began as a program soon evolved into a group-wide crusade across the broader SM portfolio. SM Retail deployed RDC bins in all SM Store branches, while SM Markets pushed ahead with its reusable bag system, and Goldilocks Bakeshop followed suit, adopting waste segregation practices across all SM Supermalls where it operates.

The result? A more unified, systematized approach to responsible waste management that transcends business units and verticals. Waste is no longer someone else’s problem—it’s everyone’s mission.

Innovation Meets Impact

SM Prime’s strength lies not just in its scale, but in how it mobilizes that scale for good. From SM Hotels’ textile upcycling program, Tela Tales, which transforms condemned linens into livelihood-generating products for women in partner communities, to SMDC’s partnership with Globe’s Hapag Movement, which rescues surplus food and feeds hungry families—this is sustainability made tangible.

The innovation continues in the digital space. In partnership with PLDT and Smart, SM Supermalls launched an E-Waste Collection Program at Cyberzone locations, offering the public an accessible and responsible way to dispose of electronic gadgets. It’s a small act with a big footprint—one gadget saved from landfill is a win for the planet.

More Than a Campaign—It’s a Culture Shift

To drive deeper change, SM Cares—the social good arm of SM Prime—launched targeted social media and grassroots campaigns designed to engage the youth and inspire long-term behavioral shifts. Most notably, on World Oceans Day, over 5,000 volunteers across 18 SM malls came together to remove more than 30,000 kilograms of waste from Philippine shorelines.

“This isn’t just about clean malls. It’s about cleaner oceans, healthier communities, and a culture that values sustainability at every level,” said Engr. Liza Silerio, Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Program Director of SM Cares for Environment. “Waste-Free Future is more than just a program—it’s a mindset shift. And we’re only getting started.”

A Future Built Together

The message is clear: A waste-free Philippines is no longer a distant dream. With strategic partnerships, widespread adoption, and strong public engagement, SM Prime is building a blueprint not just for business, but for national transformation.

Through every RDC bin placed, every gadget recycled, and every shoreline cleaned, the impact ripples outward—inviting more people, more organizations, and more communities to join in the shared vision.

Because in the end, this isn’t just SM Prime’s journey. It’s everyone’s future.

And that future is waste-free.

About SM Prime:

SM Prime is committed to shaping sustainable and innovative lifestyle cities that elevate quality of life and drive economic growth. As a catalyst for inclusive progress, the company advocates responsible development to create long-term value for Filipino communities.

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