Clean water, greener malls: How SM makes every drop count

At first glance, SM malls are known for air-conditioned comfort, convenience, and crowd-drawing events. But behind the scenes, they’re quietly working on something far more vital: water. Across the country, SM Supermalls is leading a movement that turns everyday mall operations into a model of water conservation.

In cities like Baguio where water sources are scarce, SM City Baguio has taken the lead with a rainwater treatment facility that reused over 35 million liters of rainwater in tenant kitchen operations. That’s equivalent to handwashing more than 17.5 million plates. This not only supports food safety but also reduces demand on local freshwater supplies. SM Prime is eyeing to replicate this in other malls that experience high rainfall.

This innovation is part of SM’s broader water stewardship efforts, where water is managed as both a resource and a responsibility. The company integrates conservation practices across its 88 malls in the Philippines, operating sewage treatment plants that recycle water for essential functions like toilet flushing, perimeter cleaning, and irrigation. In 2024 alone, SM Prime recycled 5.59 million cubic meters of water—enough to fill more than 2,200 Olympic-sized pools.

“Water stewardship is not just about efficiency, it’s about being sustainable with water,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan. “We design our developments to be climate-resilient and resource-conscious, ensuring long-term value for our stakeholders.”

The commitment goes beyond engineering. Through SM Cares, the company actively promotes water-saving habits among mallgoers, placing visible reminders in comfort rooms and participating in national campaigns like the DENR’s ‘Wag Pataksaya.’

This rainy season, SM’s water initiatives will once again prove critical. With unpredictable weather and the effects of climate change becoming more evident, sustainable systems like these protect both people and the environment. And while shoppers may not always notice it, every clean restroom, cooled hallway, and watered garden is a quiet testament to how a simple resource, when managed right, can make a big difference.

As SM Supermalls marks 40 Super Years, it continues to evolve not just with its shoppers, but also with the planet in mind.