The SM Waste-Free Future initiative endeavors to reduce waste generation and increase the rate of diversion.

 

It is not “out of sight, out of mind”; landfills are not just eyesores in remote areas, but they also pose a significant health risk to the communities around them and emit a substantial amount of greenhouse gases from decaying food waste.

The RDC, or Recyclable, Disposable, and Compostable bins at SM Supermalls, are not only for show but serve as the start of the journey to achieve a net-zero landfill and beyond. 

SM has recycled 130,250kg of its internal non-essential documents through its bulk paper recycling program.

SM’s environmental programs, such as the monthly Trash to Cash recycling market, continue to support communities towards sustainable living.

 
For recyclable waste, SM has initiatives like the "Trash to Cash" recycling market, which successfully gathers over 1 million kilograms annually of plastic, paper, and other materials for reuse or recycling. The program aims to reduce solid waste pollution and promote a circular economy within communities. SM understands the importance of segregating at the source, and the company does this through partnerships with various companies, such as Trust International Paper Corporation for internal bulk paper recycling. The program has avoided landfill waste equivalent to the annual waste of more than 3,000 households while ensuring recyclables are properly processed. 

For disposable, non-recyclable waste, SM Prime formed a joint venture with the Japanese environmental solutions company GUUN to establish SM GUUN Environmental Company, Inc. (SGECI). This partnership enhances its waste-to-fuel factory to convert non-recyclable waste, like single-use plastics, non-recyclable paper, and used rags, into cement fuel called “fluff fuel” to reduce coal usage. The “fluff fuel” produced is then used by eco-conscious cement companies like APO Cement, Holcim, and Taiheiyo Cement in a practice they call “co-processing,” where the ash from the fuel is also used as a cement ingredient, making it an integral part of the waste reduction ecosystem.

In 2024, SM GUUN Environmental Company converted over 6,000 metric tons of non-recyclable waste into “fluff fuel,” avoiding the annual landfill burden for 12,000 households. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently visited the facility and recognized its significance to various stakeholders, particularly in the reduction of their carbon footprints and the efficient management of solid waste. 

In 2024, SM GUUN enabled the conversion of 6,000 metric tons of non-recyclable waste into fuel for cement companies.

SM GUUN's Cebu plant is capable of processing 50-70 tons of waste daily.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) representatives, led by Assistant Secretary and concurrent Bureau Director Jaqueline Caancan were joined by the National Solid Waste Management Commission Head Engr. Vizminda Osorio and DENR Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Central Visayas Regional Director Ma. Victoria Abrera in a recent visit to SM GUUN Environmental Company in Consolacion, Cebu.

For compostable waste, SM GUUN is experimenting with a Singaporean system for its malls and hawker centers that transforms compostable food residues into landscape soil, achieving over 70% volume reduction within 48 hours. This helps create new soil for gardens, parks, and golf courses, thereby reducing the burden on landfills and contributing to soil health and urban greenery.

SM has other customer-facing programs on solid waste management, like the Plastic Waste Collection program, E-Waste Collection, as well as awareness campaigns for clean water bodies and regular estero and coastal cleanup activities. These programs are also done to support the government in promoting responsible solid waste management through RA 9004, RA 11898, and similar laws.

With solutions identified, the journey towards SM’s #SMWasteFreeFuture becomes more realistic. It needs the help of everyone--from the proper way we “Bin it Right” to the further development of waste solutions to create an ecosystem of recovery and consumption where the word “waste” can be a thing of the past. Let’s do our part for the journey to a “waste-free future.”

To learn more about SM’s solid waste management initiatives, visit https://www.smsupermalls.com/smcares/events/environmental-programs-on-solid-waste-management.

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‘Go Green,’ Kraft Foods Philippines’ (KFP) program to help save water and energy and reduce carbon emissions was given the Gold Award for Environmental Excellence at the 4th Global CSR Awards 2012.

Kraft Foods Philippines’ Gold Award for Environmental Excellence was handed by Hon. Mayor John Yap of Malay, Aklan (center) and Atty. Michael Frederick Musngi (right) Undersecretary for Special Concerns of the Office of the Executive Secretary, The Office of the President of The Philippines, to the Company’s Communications Officer Caitlin P. Punzalan (left) during the 4th Global CSR Awards.

Held April 19, 2012 in Boracay, the Global CSR Awards prides itself as Asia's most prestigious recognition awards program for corporate social responsibility (CSR). The Awards Program is organized by The Pinnacle Group International based in Singapore and recognizes companies for outstanding programs, which demonstrate ongoing commitment to respect for individuals, communities and the environment in the way they do business.

This is the 5th award that Kraft Foods has received for its ‘Go Green’ program in two years. Kraft Foods aims to help in the preservation of the environment by ensuring that reducing, recovering and recycling precious resources is part of its business. ‘Go Green’ is aimed at reducing Kraft Foods’ use of water and energy and lessening its carbon emissions. One way which Kraft Foods helps Mother Earth through ‘Go Green’ is the recent upgrading of its water recycling facility.

Kraft Foods’ new water recycling facility. This allows the Company to use treated or recycled water for many other purposes. Previously only used for maintenance tasks, the water that Kraft Foods recycles is now being used for cleaning inside its manufacturing facility.

In March of this year, Kraft Foods inaugurated its improved water recycling facility for its Sucat, Parañaque manufacturing plant. This upgraded facility utilizes reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light to treat the water that Kraft Foods uses in its production activities.

To ‘treat’ means to remove impurities the water has acquired through use. The goal of treating is to ensure that the water returns as close as possible to its natural state. By treating the water it has already used, Kraft Foods is able to use less fresh water and help in preserving this natural resource.

“I am personally very pleased to share that with this improvement initiative, Kraft Foods will be able to make a significant reduction to its water consumption,” says Sudip Mall, Kraft Foods Philippines’ General Manager. The amount of water that Kraft Foods hopes to reduce with this new facility is equivalent to filling up 4 Olympic-sized swimming pools or 581,000 5-gallon containers of water!

Kraft Foods recently inaugurated its improved water recycling facility for its Sucat, Parañaque Plant. The new facility aims to help reduce and recycle the water Kraft Foods uses for its manufacturing activities. This initiative is part of Kraft Foods’ 5-year ‘Go Green’ program aimed at reducing not only its water use but its energy use and carbon emissions as well.

He continues, “Our programs like ‘Go Green,’ don’t just make sense for our business. We also work to protect resources for future generations. I would like to add that it is truly remarkable the way our employees have relentlessly focused on driving our environmental initiatives, of which this facility is an example. We are very proud of the award bestowed upon us and this new phase of our program for the planet’s betterment.”

Making every drop reusable. For many years, Kraft Foods has had a wastewater recycling program inside its plant. Before, the water the Company treats was used only for watering plants or other maintenance tasks. This new facility ensures the treated water can be used for much more.

This is because this specific process ensures that the treated water meets the high quality standards that Kraft Foods needs for its manufacturing activities. Instead of using fresh water to clean inside its production area, the treated water is now used instead.

“We have been a community partner of Parañaque for almost 50 years, since our plant opened in 1963,” shares KFP’s Operations Director Gautam Pal. “This improved water recycling facility is another way of helping our community. By using less water, and using it smartly, we are able to contribute to our community’s efforts to save our water resources.”

In the future, Kraft Foods is looking at installing biomass boilers, or those, which use alternative energy sources, to reduce its carbon footprint even more. To find out the other ways Kraft Foods makes today delicious, visit www.kraftfoods.ph.