SM malls play big role in disaster resilience
Sustex brings together sustainability partners and stakeholders to create a lasting impact.
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Sustex brings together sustainability partners and stakeholders to create a lasting impact.
SM Aura was the perfect host for the 2026 Sustainability Expo (Sustex) on 5 August not only because SM Prime Holdings Inc. organizes the climate change solutions trade fair in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and ARISE Philippines, but because SM shopping malls are disaster resilience hubs.
SM malls serve as temporary refuge during stormy weather to keep people safe and dry. All SM malls also promote sustainability practices to help mitigate the effects of climate change, such as waste recycling, water conservation, use of renewable energy and weather forecasting.
Weather stations
Roof decks of 48 SM malls across the country host automated weather stations (AWS) of the Manila Observatory (MO) to help the private weather monitor gather atmospheric pressure, rainfall, temperature and wind speed data from various places for weather forecasting, Engr. Liza Silerio, SM Supermalls vice president for corporate compliance group and ARISE Philippines co-chair, said during the Sustex press briefing.
Silerio explained that the collected data are automatically sent to the Manila Observatory Weather Forecasting Operations Center for real-time updating of its weather monitoring and forecasting website, panahon.observatory.ph, which SM Supermalls use to generate five-day weather forecasts that help its employees prepare and stay safe during typhoons.
Waste-to-energy solution
SM Supermalls’ waste management initiative, meanwhile, has extended beyond recycling and upcycling.
Silerio said their waste-to-energy partnership with Japanese waste solutions company Guun Co. Ltd. is on its third year.
“SM City Consolacion, SM City Cebu and SM City Seaside deliver plastic waste to Guun. The plastics are shredded and then baled. After baling, the by-product is what you call a fluff fuel,” Silerio said.
The fluff fuels are then sold to cement companies to fire kilns. As burning fluff fuel produces less carbon emission, cement companies prefer it as alternative fuel.
“This is also part of our compliance with the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) law, because we reduce plastic waste,” she added.
Other plastic waste collected during SM Supermalls’ periodic coastal cleanup drives are recycled or upcycled into other products by partners like Plastic Credit Exchange, promoting circular economy.
Bayanihan spirit
Of course, organizing and hosting the second edition of Sustex also show SM Prime Holdings and SM Supermalls’ growing role of championing sustainability and disaster resiliency. Silerio said the second edition of the expo gathered more exhibitors of innovative solutions and technologies addressing waste.
“We have this crisis of basura, and there are many solutions that are in there,” she said.
Silerio is also glad that there are more participants from the local government units and barangays because they need waste solutions.
SM Supermalls vice president Engr. Junias Eusebio emphasized that sustainability is really a shared responsibility that the Sustex aims to achieve by bringing partners together to create a lasting impact.
The goal fits the expo’s theme of “Bayanihan Innovation for a Green and Resilient Philippines.”
Aside from technology exhibits, the whole-day event featured plenary forums, expert lectures and interactive displays that showcases the latest local innovations addressing pressing environmental and development challenges.
