Volunteers from SM Supermalls — including employees, customer relations staff, and janitorial personnel — come together after a successful coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay.  Photos courtesy of SM Supermalls
BUSINESS

SM By the Bay collects over 1T of trash in April coastal cleanups

DT

In a sustained show of environmental responsibility, SM By the Bay successfully mobilized 272 employees and volunteers to collect 1,147 kilograms of trash from the Manila Bay shoreline through weekly cleanup drives held throughout April.

Led by SM employees, customer service staff, and janitorial teams, the initiative reinforces the company’s commitment to community-led environmental action and highlights the role of collective effort in ocean conservation.

The cleanup drives are part of SM Cares’ broader campaign to support United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water, which aims to protect marine life and coastal ecosystems from pollution and degradation. The initiative not only restores the natural beauty of Manila Bay but also raises awareness about the threat of plastic and waste to ocean biodiversity.

Over a ton of trash collected by SM volunteers during the April 2025 coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay — each bag a step closer to a cleaner, healthier marine environment.
SM volunteers in action during the April coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay, working together to remove marine debris and protect our shoreline — one bag at a time.

Through a spirit of volunteerism and purpose, the initiative also promoted camaraderie among SM stakeholders, who worked together toward a #SMWasteFreeFuture.

The April campaign fostered a sense of camaraderie among volunteers, creating shared purpose through physical action and emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices.

To continue the momentum, SM Cares is inviting the public to participate in a nationwide Coastal Cleanup in celebration of World Oceans Day on 7 June 2025.

Participating malls include SM By the Bay, SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro, SM City Sta. Mesa, SM City Rosario, SM City Batangas, SM City Lipa, SM City Bacolod, SM City Iloilo, SM City Davao, SM City CDO Downtown, SM City Tanza, SM City Lucena, and SM Center Dagupan.

Step by step, bag by bag — SM employees move with purpose along the SM By the Bay, turning their mornings into a meaningful mission for the environment.
Participants from SM Supermalls take part in the April cleanup at SM By the Bay, showing that teamwork and purpose go a long way in protecting coastal communities.