SM Prime expands water recycling across malls

MANILA — SM Prime Holdings, Inc. said it has strengthened water circularity initiatives across its nationwide mall network, recycling millions of cubic meters of wastewater and deploying sensor-based fixtures to cut consumption amid intensifying climate-related drought risks.

In a statement issued through SM Supermalls, the company said its sustainability program—implemented across its shopping mall portfolio since the late 1990s—has evolved into a large-scale water management system combining wastewater recycling, rainwater harvesting, and water-efficient fixtures.

The company said its 89 malls now operate sewage treatment systems that recycle an estimated 6.6 million cubic meters of wastewater in 2025 for non-potable uses such as sanitation and cleaning.

It also highlighted rainwater harvesting facilities, including a system in SM Baguio, which collects and treats rainwater for operational use.

To reduce direct consumption from municipal supplies, SM said it has installed “push-delay” faucets and expanded the use of sensor-based fixtures, which automatically shut off water flow when not in use.

The company said sensor technology, introduced in 2015, has helped reduce water waste by up to 59%, equivalent to saving a 1.5-liter bottle of water per user over a seven-second use cycle.

SM said the measures are part of its “Water for Tomorrow” initiative under the broader SM Green Movement, aimed at reducing environmental impact and improving resource efficiency as the Philippines faces periodic dry spells linked to El Niño.

(Press release from SM Supermalls; Reporting by GMB News Desk.)