The SM Group is ramping up its environmental initiatives with a consolidated effort to reduce plastic waste across its commercial and corporate operations, aligning with the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022.
Spearheaded by SM Investments Corp. (SMIC), the conglomerate recently established a dedicated working group tasked with integrating plastic waste reduction into the sustainability roadmaps of its various business units. The move signifies a coordinated response to both the legal mandates and growing environmental imperatives around plastic use.
“Plastic waste reduction at SM is about steady, coordinated progress made possible by a shared culture of everyday solutions and a proactive approach across all our businesses,” said Timothy Daniels, SMIC head of investor relations and sustainability. “We understand the importance of waste recovery and recycling not only as part of our sustainable business vision but also as a social and legal obligation.”
Among the notable corporate actions:
- Retail innovations: SM Markets, encompassing SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and Savemore, continued to promote reusable bags, with over 19 million Green Bags sold in 2024 alone—an estimated 42 million single-use plastic bags avoided. Meanwhile, Watsons Philippines transitioned 81 percent of its stores to paper bags and offers over 2,140 “Sustainable Choices” products with eco-friendly packaging and ingredients.
- Packaging efficiency: Goldilocks Bakeshop, part of SM’s portfolio, reduced plastic usage by cutting down on packaging ribbons—saving 7,000 kilograms of plastic annually.
- Green logistics: 2GO Group, Inc., SM’s logistics arm, has fully adopted recyclable and biodegradable packaging across its shipping operations.
- Infrastructure support: SM Prime Holdings, Inc. has equipped its malls and properties with materials recovery facilities (MRFs), standardized segregation systems, and installed 15 plastic drop-off points—diverting nearly 64,000 kg of plastic from landfills.
- Community engagement: Initiatives like Trash-to-Cash, a monthly recycling market in all SM Supermalls, have recovered over 12 million kg of recyclables to date. Public segregation bins and educational drives further bolster SM’s consumer outreach.
- Hospitality phase-out: SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. eliminated single-use plastics as early as 2018, opting for refillable amenities and compostable alternatives.
The SM Group’s plastic waste reduction strategy reflects a broader shift in corporate environmental responsibility, emphasizing practical changes in daily operations and long-term investments in sustainability infrastructure.
This initiative supports global environmental goals, with the United Nations Environment Programme estimating that 19–23 million tons of plastic waste enter ecosystems annually, polluting water systems and threatening biodiversity.
