Village Connect
In a significant nod to corporate environmental leadership, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recognized the SM Group for its comprehensive and coordinated efforts in plastic recovery and responsible waste management across its business ecosystem.
The citation, presented during a January 30, 2026 event, highlighted SM’s proactive support of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Program under Republic Act No. 11898, or the EPR Law of 2022. More than simply meeting regulatory requirements, SM was commended for advancing recovery, reduction, and innovation initiatives aligned with the country’s Zero Waste to Nature agenda.
For SM Investments Corporation Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability Timothy Daniels, the recognition belongs to the entire organization. He emphasized that sustainability is not confined to a single department but embedded across retail, banking, logistics, and property units. From rethinking packaging to influencing consumer behavior toward reduced plastic use, each arm of the group contributes to lowering its overall plastic footprint.
At the center of this transformation is SM Prime Holdings’ #SMWasteFreeFuture campaign, which consolidates sustainability programs into a unified strategy. A major milestone under this initiative is the partnership with Japan-based Guun Co., Ltd., resulting in the establishment of a waste processing facility in Consolacion, Cebu. The plant converts collected waste into new materials—proving that disposal does not have to mean the end of value.
Across SM properties nationwide, color-coded bins labeled recyclable, disposable, and compostable (RDC) make segregation easier for the public. Recyclables such as paper, cans, and bottles are forwarded to processing plants. Disposables like plastic cups and wrappers are transformed into alternative fuel for cement production, while food waste is converted into usable soil within 48 hours—closing the loop in practical, measurable ways.
SM Supermalls strengthens public participation through its long-running Trash-to-Cash (TTC) recycling markets, where customers exchange recyclables for cash. The program diverts more than 1.5 million kilograms of waste annually, complemented by e-waste collection bins and plastic waste collection vans in select malls.
Meanwhile, SM Markets continues its eco-bag campaign first introduced in 2007. In 2025 alone, the sale of 20.8 million reusable Green Bags helped avoid an estimated 31.2 million plastic bags—demonstrating how everyday retail decisions can create nationwide impact.
For SM, tackling plastic waste means pursuing solutions that are practical, scalable, and economically viable. The DENR recognition affirms that when sustainability becomes a shared responsibility across an entire corporate group, meaningful environmental progress follows.
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