Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Empowering Change: SM Cares Unites Communities for the Environment


As a long-standing advocate for sustainability, SM Cares—the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls—once again mobilized thousands of Filipinos in celebration of Philippine Environment Month, reinforcing its commitment to creating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future through its movement for an #SMWasteFreeFuture. 

Throughout the month of June 2025, SM Supermalls nationwide served as rallying points for environmental action, drawing in communities, partners, and changemakers through dynamic and impactful programs that aligned with the spirit of cycling for change, cleaning together, and conserving what matters.

Cycle: Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles

Cyclists ride together in celebration of World Bicycle Day at SM, promoting eco-friendly mobility and cleaner cities as part of Philippine Environment Month 2025.

In celebration of World Bicycle Day, 26 SM malls across the country hosted community bike rides and various bike-related events—encouraging greener mobility while rallying support for various environmental and health initiatives. These bike rides weren’t just about pedaling—they were about movement of people, ideas, and purpose.

Families and biking advocates pedal through green pathways during SM’s World Bicycle Day ride, showing how sustainable lifestyles can start at the community level.

Clean: Protecting Our Waters Together

SM Cares volunteers take action for World Oceans Day, cleaning up shorelines to protect marine ecosystems and support an #SMWasteFreeFuture.

To honor World Oceans Day, 18 SM malls led coastal and river cleanup drives in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), LGUs, youth groups, and private sector partners. The initiative drew over 5,000 volunteers and resulted in the collection of more than 30,000 kilograms of trash, showing how collective action can create real environmental impact.

United for the planet: SM Cares employee-volunteers join coastal cleanups nationwide, collecting waste and reinforcing the call for environmental responsibility.

Conserve with Purpose: Engaging Through Culture, Education, and Action

Sixteen youth-led films spotlight urgent environmental issues through bold storytelling and creative vision during DENR R4A Green Flicks: A Short Filmmaking Competition for Students.

As part of its Environment Month campaign, SM Cares expanded its initiatives through a series of educational and cultural activities that promote purposeful conservation. These included a green film showing in partnership with government agencies to raise awareness on climate action and biodiversity, a bike-hike-plant activity that combined cycling, reforestation, and volunteerism, and a youth-led battle of the bands that fused music and environmental advocacy.

SM Cares and DENR-Calabarzon team up with youth artists and advocates at SM City Lipa for Kalikharawan in championing sustainability and climate awareness.

“These efforts reflect our deep commitment to help build a culture of sustainability in every community we serve,” said Engr. Liza Silerio, Vice President for Corporate Compliance and SM Cares Program Director for Environment. “An #SMWasteFreeFuture isn’t just a goal—it’s a responsibility that we proudly share with our mall-goers, employees, and partners.”

SM employees and partners join DENR Region 5 Bike Hike Plant 2025, planting pili saplings to support reforestation and celebrate 162 years of the Philippine Forestry Service.

These initiatives also support several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals—demonstrating SM Cares’ continuing commitment to environmental stewardship through multi-sector collaboration and community engagement.

SM employees unite at the nationwide forum on the UN Sustainable Development Goals to strengthen our commitment towards a more sustainable future.

This Philippine Environment Month, SM Cares continues to prove that progress happens when communities come together—with every ride, every cleanup, and every small act of conservation bringing the country closer to a future that’s cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable.

Sustainably SM: Driving Collective Action for a Greener Tomorrow

As a Sustainable Mall, SM Cares champions environmental stewardship through inclusive and future-forward initiatives that promote sustainable living, climate resilience, and resource conservation.

By actively engaging mall-goers, communities, and partner organizations, SM Cares fosters collective action to reduce environmental impact, and build a greener, more resilient future. Through education, innovation, and strong partnerships, SM Cares leads the way in creating sustainable spaces and inspiring everyday environmental responsibility across generation.

40 Years of Building Better Communities

Celebrating 40 Super Years of Evolving With Every You, SM Supermalls—one of Southeast Asia’s largest mall developers—continuously evolving to lead the way in sustainable development by integrating green design, energy efficiency, disaster resilience, and environmental stewardship into its 88 malls in the Philippines, all while creating inclusive spaces that enrich communities, support climate action, and ensure a better, more sustainable future for generations of Filipino shoppers.

For more information about SM Cares and its environmental sustainability programs, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares or follow @OfficialSMCares on social media. (SM Prime)