SM wins ESG award for waste-free future

PDI-ESG-Edge photo
ESG RECOGNITION. (In photo) SM Prime representatives with Engr. Liza B. Silerio (left middle), SM Supermalls VP for Compliance and Sustainability; Dr. Louernie de Sales (right middle), SM Prime VP for Sustainability and President of SGECI; Ms. Katrina Dalusong (leftmost), Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Director for Group Sales; and Philippine Daily Inquirer Business Section Editor, Ms. Tina Arceo-Dumlao (rightmost), during the 2026 ESG Edge Impact Awards in Manila. (Photo courtesy of SM Supermalls)

MANILA – SM Prime Holdings, Inc. said in a press release it has received the Gold Award in the Transformation Category at the 2026 ESG Edge Impact Awards for its “SM Waste Free Future” initiative, underscoring the company’s push toward circular economy practices.

The Transformation Category recognizes organizations that have significantly improved sustainability performance and operational models over time.

Launched in 2024 at the SM Mall of Asia, the program introduced standardized waste segregation across SM properties through Recyclable, Disposable, and Compostable (RDC) bins.

By 2025, SM Prime reported an 80% diversion rate for non-hazardous waste away from landfills.

SM R-D-C Bins
EARLY ENGAGEMENT. Employees at SM Mall of Asia engage in early awareness-building by using the three-bin waste segregation system under SM Prime’s Waste Free Future initiative, part of its award-winning circularity program.

A key enabler is SM GUUN Environmental Company, Inc. (SGECI), a Cebu-based waste-to-fuel facility that processes disposable waste into alternative fuel for cement manufacturers such as Holcim and APO Cement. SGECI’s ecosystem partners include Asia Brewery, PetValue, Nature Springs, and Concreat, which collectively processed more than 6,000 metric tons of waste in 2025.

SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, has also mobilized communities, with last year’s International Coastal Cleanup drawing 48,000 volunteers.

“Creating a waste-free future requires everyone to play a role—from employees and partner-tenants to local governments, communities, and customers,” Engr. Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls VP for Compliance and Sustainability, said in the press release.

She added: “It is always a challenge at the start, but I’m proud of how far we have come. By working together, we can turn waste challenges into opportunities for positive environmental impact.”

Louernie de Sales, SM Prime VP for Sustainability and President of SGECI, said in the release the award “reflects the power of collaboration in attempting to do what is impossible. The award belongs to everyone who has contributed to the journey. It demonstrates that when we unite behind a common purpose, we can achieve transformation at scale.”

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