As a Filipino kid growing up in the 1990’s, leisure trips to SM was part of my childhood. Whether we needed to buy personal stuff or wanted to eat or hang out with friends and family, our week was not complete without a visit to the mall that’s got it all.
To this day, I can still hear the tune of the famous jingle. Little did I know that our favorite mall offered a lot more than just a complete shopping experience. As an adult, I was pleased to find that SM has been doing so much more for the future of our country.
From selling everything we need, SM expanded the business to offer more lifestyle choices for the Filipino consumer. The company ventured into building malls, office buildings, residences, and resilient communities through its property arm. SM Prime is now one of Southeast Asia’s largest integrated property developers that champions sustainability.
Through its businesses, the company helps boost economic growth by contributing to the country’s gross domestic product. SM Prime likewise continuously provides jobs to thousands of Filipinos across its business units. In addition, the company also safeguards the environment and uplifts the lives of its host communities through various environmental and social development programs.
In carrying out all these initiatives, consistency is vital. As I learned from my first conversation with Mr. Hans Sy, it’s important to consistently do good for the people and the planet. What matters, in the end, are dependable and tangible results —a stronger economy, a healthy environment, and empowered people. And this is why I look to SM Prime and the people around me as true sustainability champions.
Our Earth Action Number
In last month’s World Environment Day, the world was asked to share their Earth Action numbers. I am proud to say that we made a commitment to increase our renewables by more than 50% by end 2022.
It is an ambitious statement that we have made, but one that is achievable with our four-pillar sustainability framework: Economy, People, Environment, and Community. They are aligned with the principles governing the UN SDGs, The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and the 2015-2030 Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction.
SM Prime is one with the global network of responsible businesses working to protect our planet. We drive change by building and managing our properties that spur commercial activity and local economic growth. This not only keeps us competitive in our own industry, it is also how we create greater value for our stakeholders.
Resilience + sustainability, these are two words that best define our company and the people behind the massive goals that we have set for ourselves.
We design scalable and replicable programs related to energy, water, and waste resources that yield proven and substantial results. Within the bounds of our business, we commit to doing all we can to minimize our carbon footprint and promote a sustainable lifestyle.
Three LEED Gold Certified Buildings
Renewables increase by more than 50% by end 2022
10.6 MW Solar Panel Capacity Installed in SM Supermalls
8.8 billion Liters of Water Saved
24-hectares of Protected Mangroves
Three Marine Protected Areas
Three Cities supported by Adopt-a-City Program
Diverted 7,945 kg of post-consumer plastics
Our founding leader, Henry Sy, believed that “business growth and social development must go hand in hand” – it is a guiding principle that is embedded in our framework, and a north star that I have adopted as my own.
