MANILA, PHILIPPINES – In a kaleidoscopic showcase of Filipino environmental ingenuity, SM Supermalls has once again proven that saving the planet can be as vibrant as our jeepneys and as communal as our bayanihan spirit. Their Earth Day 2025 celebrations weren’t just another corporate box-ticking exercise – they were a nationwide eco-fiesta that had everyone from titas to tiktokers getting their green on.
With the global call to action “Our Power, Our Planet” echoing through their walls, SM brought Earth Day 2025 to life with a series of immersive, collaborative, and culture-rooted initiatives—proving that mall culture can spark movements that matter.
“At SM, we believe that sustainability happens not in a moment, but in the everyday choices we make. Earth Day is just the spark—it’s what we do after that builds a better future,” said Engr. Liza Silerio, Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Program Director of SM Cares for Environment.
From Luzon to Mindanao, SM partnered with local governments, eco-advocates, recyclers, and artists to roll out campaigns that tackled three key themes: renewable energy, waste management, and creative recycling. But these weren’t your usual one-day activities. Think community cleanups, e-waste drives, and art workshops that didn’t just inform, but inspire too.
At SM City Taytay, mallgoers met the Solar Nanays – women empowered by SM and Upgrade Energy Philippines Inc. to maintain solar panels installed on mall rooftops. Their stories shed light (literally and figuratively) on the power of renewable energy in the hands of local communities.
Among the standout efforts this year was the launch of EcoTarp – a clever, heart-forward upcycling project in collaboration with Tahanang Walang Hagdan. Old mall tarpaulins were transformed into chic, reusable eco-bags, set to be distributed during SM’s Back-to-School programs. The initiative didn’t just reduce waste—it created jobs and spotlighted the value of inclusive sustainability.
In a workshop somewhere between a sewing studio and an environmental lab, the hands behind these bags stitched a new story—one where waste becomes opportunity.
At SM City North EDSA, the mall became a canvas. With Kapitolyo Art Space, they unveiled an exhibit built entirely from reclaimed materials. The message? Creativity is a climate solution. Meanwhile, SM City General Santos brought in the youth for eco-art workshops that doubled as environmental storytelling boot camps.
Across properties, SM employees led the charge with the R-D-C (Recyclable, Disposable, Compostable) bin campaign. The message was simple: segregation is a small act with massive impact. Armed with digital content and on-ground demos, mall teams took waste management education into their own hands and brought communities along for the ride.
And in Tacloban and Puerto Princesa, tree planting and open forums showed what public-private partnerships can do when united by purpose.
“Through every waste recycled, tarp repurposed, and habit formed, we are shaping a culture of care—for our communities, and for the planet we all share,” concluded Engr. Liza Silerio.
