SM Cares' record-breaking International Coastal Clean-Up paves the way for a waste-free future

by Info @Brand Zone | Sep. 24, 2023

More than 23,000 volunteers from various organizations and communities across the country recently attended this year’s International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC), an annual event organized by SM in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Local Government Units (LGUs), and the International Coastal Clean-up Organization as part of their commitment to promoting cleaner seas and oceans.

Held annually, the ICC encourages individuals to join the movement for cleaner seas and oceans, inspiring thousands of volunteers from various sectors and communities every year to do their part in ensuring the cleanliness of the shorelines and waterways in the country.

This year’s ICC took place last September 21 simultaneously in 15 different SM Supermalls across the country, garnering a total of 23,320 participants overall and making it SM’s biggest ICC event yet since joining last 2015! Shown below are the SM Supermalls nationwide that were part of the cleanup.

SM City Bataan employees roll up their sleeves for a coastal clean-up of barangays by the Balanga Wetland and Nature Park.

A volunteer from SM City Tuguegarao and SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown clean up Cataggamanan Viejo.

SM City Daet volunteers clean up Bagasbas Beach, leaving it greener and cleaner than ever.

A volunteer from SM City Legazpi helps protect the coast of Legazpi Boulevard.

SM City General Santos volunteers clean up Bauayan River.

SM executives unite with Pasay City officials for a clean-up initiative at SM by the Bay at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, contributing to a trash-free Manila Bay.

SM City Mindpro volunteers clean up RT Lim Boulevard.

SM City Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu volunteers join forces to clean up Kinalumsan River by South Road Properties (SRP).

SM City Sorsogon volunteers conduct a cleanup by the pier site of Barangay Talisay and Bitan-o.

SM City Olongapo Central and SM City Olongapo Downtown volunteers unite for a cleaner community at Kalaklan Parola.

Volunteers from SM City Puerto Princesa help clean the coastal barangays of Puerto Princesa City Walk Bay.

An SM City Roxas volunteer lends a hand in cleaning up Barangay Culasi, Roxas City in Capiz.

A total of 135,000 kg of waste was collected during the recently concluded event, which will then be disposed of through the proper facilities and channels.

Through the ICC, SM highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships and showcases the power of working together to leave a positive impact on the environment.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, responsible for initiatives that promote sustainability and the development of the community. SM Cares’ advocacies include programs on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth, as well as the Bike-Friendly SM initiative, in addition to its Programs on Environment.

To learn more about these, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.

Collaborative partnerships for climate resilience

by Info @Brand Zone | August 10, 2024

Manila, August 7, 2024. The Philippines tops the list of countries with the highest disaster risk, thus building our capacity to respond, bounce back and adapt to intensifying climate impacts is a nationwide priority and shared responsibility.

“Any program that aims to build climate resilience requires strong partnerships and working together across all sectors,” said World-Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-PH) Executive Director, Katherine Custodio at the breakout session of the 7th Annual Conference of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities – Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference and Student Symposium 2024 (APRU-SCL 2024). 

 “There is definite opportunity for platforms or networks to come together and bring to life our national policies and our commitments, but for these to succeed, there needs to be sincere effort and openness to work across different sectors and disciplines,” said Custodio. The session on creating connections and partnerships was hosted by Jonas Marie Dumdum, Senior Consultant and Sustainability Service Lead of Nomura Research Institute (NRI) Manila Branch.

“Finding the right champions within the company – that’s very important. It helps to engage the leaders from the top,” said Custodio, who has seen the history of the shared goals between the NGO and its many corporate partners over the years.

Ms. Jessica Bianca Sy, Lead Executive for Design, Innovation and Strategy for SM Prime and SMDC, shares her insights on sustainable and climate-resilient integrated properties.

WWF-Philippines and SM Prime Holdings, Inc., (SM Prime) have partnered on successful programs such as the YOUth are the Future, the annual Earth Hour campaign with SM Supermalls, SM Hotel’s Sustainable Diner, and the Hamilo Coast Sustainable Development project that’s now in its 14th year. 

“At SM Prime, we dream big for our shared future. True prosperity transcends financial success. Our commitment to developing sustainable integrated properties is matched by our efforts to foster vibrant, inclusive communities wherever we build legacy properties that weather the challenges of time and that last for generations,” said Ms. Jessica Bianca Sy, Lead Executive for Design, Innovation and Strategy for SM Prime and SM Development Corporation (SMDC), during the event.

As one of Asia’s leading integrated property developers, SM Prime believes that taking the right climate action must be grounded in science and endeavor to transition to a net-zero economy. SM Prime’s partnership with WWF-PH ensures that its near and long-term science-based targets for 2030 and 2040, align with the global commitment to achieve net zero by 2050.

“WWF-PH is pleased to work with SM Prime on their decarbonization efforts through our Corporates for a Better Planet Initiative (CBPI) program.  Companies such as SM Prime are guided in identifying climate-related risks, working on a roadmap, and publicly committing to their science-based targets,” said Custodio.  

“Change does not happen overnight. This is something we have learned in our work with communities all over the country. True partners are willing to work together for a long time, and actively listen to each other,” said Custodio, when asked by Dumdum about climate partnerships and shared purpose. “When your project positively impacts people’s livelihood and wellbeing - when people’s lives improve in a durable way, that’s when you know you’ve created an impact,” she said. 

SM Prime remains committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities, thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people. SM Prime is pursuing the next horizon on integrated property development and onward to building sustainable cities of the future. 

The 7th APRU-SCL 2024 is hosted and organized this year by the University of the Philippines Los Baňos, at the SMX Aura Convention Center, from August 6-8, 2024. For more information, email: hspdconf@up.edu.ph or visit the website: dcerp.che.uplb.edu.ph/ichspd.

SM creates stronger ocean conservation initiatives giving New Waves of Impact during Coastal Clean-up Projects

by Info @Brand Zone | June 26, 2024

SM Supermalls, through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, SM Cares, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), continue to drive active participation in ocean conservation with the latest leg of SM’s Coastal Clean-up drive, held on June 8, 2024, Saturday in celebration of World Oceans Day.

This year, SM was able to collect more than 15,000 kgs of trash with the help of 2,500 SM Employees and volunteers from 15 SM Supermalls nationwide.

SM City Sorsogon cleans the coastal area of Sitio Mahingan

SM City Legazpi does a clean-up by the coastal shorelines of Brgy. Dapdap and Brgy. Puro

SM Mindpro volunteers cleaned-up the trash along the stretch of mangrove areas

Purok Minanga get cleaned by volunteers from SM City General Santos

SM City Roxas volunteers are ready to clean the coast of Baybay Beach

SM City Puerto Princesa volunteer shows the trash they collected during the clean-up

SM City Puerto Princesa volunteer shows the trash they collected during the clean-up

Shore-lines gets greener with a clean up by SM City Daet

SM City Bataan volunteers protecting our aweSM seas

The area of Centro 10-Tanza-Caggay get cleaned by volunteers from SM City Tuguegarao & SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown

SM by the BAY volunteers – including NU Nazareth students, BSP/GSP, SM employees and agency personnel’s fight for a trash-free Manila Bay

SM City Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu return to Cebu SRP for a clean-up

Since 2014, SM’s coastal clean-up initiative has grown to include more coastal locations and volunteers, showing the true impact of SM’s advocacy, as well as the power of community participation in environmental stewardship and marine conservation efforts.

SM Cares’ Coastal Clean-up project is part of the organization’s Programs on Environment. SM Cares also has supporting initiatives focused on children and the youth, women and breastfeeding mothers, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. 

To learn more, visit https://www.smsupermalls.com/smcares/.