Hamilo Coast’s desalination plant provides sustainable water to its community, serving residences, hotels, staff housing, and offices since 2010.  Photos courtesy of SM Prime
BUSINESS

‘Water for Tomorrow’ campaign shows SM Prime is serious about sustainability

DT

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable water management through its “Water for Tomorrow” campaign, highlighting the company's long-standing efforts to integrate climate resilience and responsible resource use across its developments.

Launched as part of its broader sustainability strategy, the campaign comes amid growing global concern over access to clean water — a challenge further intensified by urban expansion and population growth. The United Nations recognizes effective water management as a critical component for both environmental protection and societal development.

"As businesses face growing water challenges, we must take action to secure our Water for Tomorrow," said SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman Hans T. Sy. "Water stewardship is an investment in our future. We must move beyond conservation and prioritize resource protection, waste reduction and water security for future generations."

According to the company, SM Prime has been investing in water conservation since the early 1990s. In 2023 alone, the developer consumed 7.2 million cubic meters of water, with 61 percent of that total recycled. Across its malls, over 1 billion gallons of recycled water is used for cleaning, landscaping, and cooling systems on average. The use of low-flow plumbing fixtures also helps reduce demand.

SM City Baguio’s rainwater treatment facility (RTF) utilizes a rigorous six-step treatment process with real-time monitoring to ensure processed water meets potability requirements, and its service to the community was recognized at the 2024 Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards.

Wider water efforts

Headquarters to some of the largest Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) brand names, the Three E-com Center at the Mall of Asia Complex efficiently operates its sewage treatment plant to collect, treat, and remove contaminants from wastewater, making it safe to discharge to the surrounding environment.

These practices extend beyond mall operations. The company’s offices at the Mall of Asia Complex are equipped with sewage treatment plants that recycle greywater, while its residential developments like the Sea and Shore Residences donate treated water for landscaping projects within the estate.

Pico Sands Hotel has reduced water consumption by advocating towel and linen reuse, inviting guests to join its sustainability journey and conserve water.

Pico Sands Hotel reported a 36 percent reduction in freshwater use, hitting a 52-percent reuse rate, while Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club reached 41 percent reuse. A desalination plant at Hamilo Coast in Batangas has also supported sustainable tourism and provided water to surrounding developments since 2010.

SM Development Corporation (SMDC)’s Sea and Shore Residences donate their treated wastewater to green the landscape of the Estates in Mall of Asia Complex.

In Baguio, SM Supermalls launched a rainwater treatment facility at SM City Baguio in 2023. The system has treated 17,000 cubic meters of rainwater into potable water, helping reduce reliance on traditional freshwater sources.

SM Prime’s initiative aligns with the upcoming UN World Water Day on March 22, which this year focuses on glacier preservation and the broader impact of glacial melt on global water security.

The “Water for Tomorrow” campaign forms part of SM Prime’s larger sustainability goals, which also include achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and promoting waste-free initiatives.