SM Installs Waste Segregation Bins In 75 Department Stores Nationwide

SM, through SM Retail, has launched a nationwide initiative to install waste segregation bins in 75 department stores as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The company's endeavor is in line with the broader #SMWasteFreeFuture campaign, which promotes responsible waste management through a clear system for separating waste into three categories: Recyclable, Disposable, and Compostable (RDC). I Photo: SM Investments

This effort is in line with the broader #SMWasteFreeFuture campaign, which promotes responsible waste management through a clear system for separating waste into three categories: Recyclable, Disposable, and Compostable (RDC).

The rollout has already begun with 25 stores in the National Capital Region (NCR) receiving the bins, and 50 more provincial branches set to follow in the coming weeks.

SM aims to encourage both customers and employees to adopt more sustainable waste practices through this initiative.

“By placing recycling bins in 75 of our department stores, SM Retail is taking a practical step towards improving waste management. We aim to make it easier for our customers and employees to sort and recycle waste, supporting our broader goal of reducing environmental impact,” said Luis Lava, Vice President for Workplace and Administration at SM Retail Inc.

The campaign extends beyond retail, with RDC-labeled bins being installed across various SM properties, including malls, hotels, offices, and convention centers nationwide.

SM is also encouraging its mall tenants to participate through educational campaigns and informational materials.

Engr. Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls Vice President and SM Cares Program Director for the Environment, emphasized the importance of collective action, stating, "At SM, we stand united in this global movement. Our unified waste management and segregation campaign, involving our property, retail groups, and stakeholders, aims to create more impact for us and our communities."

The #SMWasteFreeFuture campaign also includes partnerships, such as SM Prime’s joint venture with Japan's GUUN Co. Ltd., which converts non-recyclable waste into eco-friendly "fluff fuel" for industrial use.

Another advocacy anchored on strategic tie-ups is SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.'s Sustainable Diner Project with WWF-Philippines, which has diverted 198 tons of food waste from landfills.

For its part, SM Development Corporation is collaborating with Globe and Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) through the Hapag Movement to tackle food waste and food insecurity.

The initiative involves over 40 SMDC developments and aims to provide 450,000 meals to families in need over the next 18 months.

The campaign exemplifies SM’s dedication to sustainability, showing how collective and innovative efforts can significantly impact waste management and resource conservation across various sectors.