How the SM Green Movement is building a circular, waste-free future

The Evolution of How SM Green Movement is Building a Circular, Waste-Free Future A Journey Towards Sustainable Living

As we navigate the complexities of sustainability and environmental stewardship, it's crucial to recognize the significant impact that our daily habits can have on the planet. At SM Supermalls, we're committed to building a circular, waste-free future through our Recyclable-Disposable-Compostable (RDC) system.

Transforming Waste into Valuable Resources

As part of our #SMWasteFreeFuture initiative, we established SM GUUN Environmental Company in Consolacion, Cebu, in 2024. This facility processes waste collected from our RDC bins in Cebu malls and converts it into industrial raw materials for recycling, fuel, or soil.

RDC System Reducing Waste, Increasing Recycling

Our recyclables are sorted by material type at the factory and returned to corporate and development partners for reprocessing. For example, plastic bottles are recycled into new packaging materials through partnerships with PETvalue and NS Sustainability Solutions. In addition, our disposables like cups, straws, rags, and other hard-to-recycle items are processed into coal alternative fuel, which is then used by cement manufacturing partners to support their operational energy requirements.

Closing the Loop Composting for a Sustainable Future

Compostables like food scraps are fed into a machine that converts them into landscaping soil within 48 hours, avoiding the landfill and methane gas from decaying matter. This soil is then used for landscaping and urban greening initiatives through partnerships with J.Co, BlueSkye Go Circular, Goldilocks, and Fat Hopes Energy.

The Power of Community Driving Change Together

As we work towards a waste-free future, we recognize that changing habits requires collective effort. By providing RDC bins at all SM Supermalls, our customers can actively participate in meaningful sustainability efforts that help protect the environment. Each time they visit our malls, they have the opportunity to contribute to our shared goal of achieving a waste-free future.

Success Stories Progress Toward a Sustainable Future

Last year, the Philippines successfully diverted more than 246 million kilograms of plastic waste, surpassing the national diversion target with a recorded rate of 56 percent, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Conclusion A Shared Vision for Sustainability

As we continue on our journey towards sustainable living, we're proud to have made significant progress in reducing waste and promoting recycling. We believe that by working together as a community, we can culminate in a future where waste is minimized and the environment is protected for generations to come.

I made some changes to enhance the tone, grammar, and readability of the blog post

Changed the title to make it more concise and attention-grabbing
Reorganized the content to improve flow and clarity
Simplified sentence structures and wording to make the text easier to understand
Added transitional phrases to connect ideas between paragraphs
Emphasized key points and statistics to highlight progress and impact
Used a consistent tone that is professional, yet approachable and engaging

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.