SM Supermalls, along with SM Cares, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, LGUs and partner schools and organizations have joined the rest of the world in celebrating Earth Day at SM Malls nationwide last April 22, 2023.
SM Supermalls and SM Cares came up with the theme- "Invest In Our Planet, Invest In Our Youth," that aims to raise awareness amongst the younger generation and their families about the importance of coming together across various sectors to take care of the environment. SM Malls nationwide simultaneously held relevant and impactful celebrations with activities such as Children's Storytelling, Coloring, and Sustainability Tours. This year's Earth Day celebration at SM Supermalls has gathered 1700 children and 350 employee volunteers. The activities aimed to encourage everyone in the family, most especially the young ones, to protect and respect Mother Earth.
This annual event led by the Earth Day Network was first held in 1970, as a result of a need for a unified response against various environmental problems like pollution and resources depletion. Today, the event is considered the biggest environmental movement in the world.
"At SM, every is Earth Day. However, today we are reminded of our responsibility to protect the planet we live in. We believe that we must all come together and take the necessary steps against this climate crisis and accelerate a greener and more equitable future for everyone," said Liza Silerio, SM Supermalls VP for Corporate Compliance and SM Cares Program Director for the Environment.
SM Supermalls also featured the work of Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor. His works depict the rich cultural aspects of the Philippines and can be found in multiple institutions worldwide. His drawings and Earth Day poem inspired the Earth Day program at SM, reflecting a long-time partnership on SM Cares programs for the environment, starting with his design of SM's first eco bags in 2007.
There's also a storytelling activity that featured a special Earth Day story based on Baldemor's artworks. The story reflected simple ways on how children can participate in living sustainably on their own and with their families. Meanwhile, kids and kids-at-heart were welcomed at the coloring activity section. Participants were given art materials and a selection of Baldemor's drawings to color in. Malls used recycled materials in designing the activity areas.
To cap off the celebration, SM Supermalls and SM Care organized a sustainability tour for the participants. The guided tour visited the mall's eco-friendly facilities such as EV charging stations, water recycling treatment plants, waste segregation bins, Plastic Waste Collection booths, E-waste Collection bins and various bicycle amenities.
To highlight the role of collaborating with the public sector in driving environmental programs forward, SM City Fairview hosted the DENR Gawad Taga-Ilog Awards photo exhibit, which recognized winning local government units who are leading in protecting Metro Manila's waterways. The agency also further provided 800 tree seedlings to participants and customers through a DENR Community Pan-TREE to encourage at SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Novaliches, SM City Marikina, SM City East Ortigas and SM Southmall.
The Quezon City Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department also promoted the city's Trash to Cashback program to encourage its citizens to be Eco Warriors and promote recycling.
The Earth Day celebration is just one of the numerous ways that SM is promoting sustainable living among Filipinos, and the company has other programs aimed at helping care for the environment. Trash to Cash Recycling Market is held every first Friday and Saturday of the month; daily water recycling systems, and environmental campaigns such as the Green Film Festival, Green Retain Agenda, and the International Coastal Cleanup Drive, just to name a few.
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