This is equivalent to CO2 emissions from 417,940 number of smartphones charged
In support of the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) annual campaign, SM Supermalls and SM Cares participated in the Global Lights Switch Off for Earth Hour 2023 on March 25. Over 82 SM malls and properties throughout the Philippines joined millions across 190 countries worldwide to raise awareness about the climate crisis.
This year marks SM’s 15th year of support for Earth Hour, and the company turned off or reduced mall signages and lighting in key areas by 50 percent. Tenants were also encouraged to participate by dimming or turning off select lights within their stores. Mall-goers were invited to take part in creative yet meaningful ways, such as dining in the dark, shopping for sustainable goods, or taking an evening walk or bike ride by the malls.
At the conclusion of the event, participating SM malls collectively conserved 4826 kwH of energy, equivalent to 3,436 kg of carbon dioxide. This is comparable to the greenhouse gas emissions from a passenger vehicle driven 13,725 km using an average amount of gasoline, CO2 emissions from 417,940 smartphones charged, greenhouse gas emissions prevented by recycling 1,088,622 grams of waste instead of landfilling, or carbon sequestered by 57 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
In addition to the hour-long switch off event, SM Supermalls and SM Cares showed their continued support for the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Virtual Earth Hour Run. This was a self-paced online running event where participants set a cumulative distance for their run, and all proceeds went directly toward supporting WWF-Philippines’ conservation efforts.
Furthermore, SM Supermalls and SM Cares encourage the public to make Earth Hour “any hour” by adopting practical tips for resource conservation and learning from SM’s sustainability initiatives.
According to Engr. Liza Silerio, Vice President for Corporate Compliance and SM Cares Program Director for the Environment, “Protecting the environment should not be limited to just one hour a year, but should be practiced every day.” She emphasized that SM remains committed to supporting the United Nations and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in protecting the environment, as demonstrated by the way the company builds and operates on a daily basis.
SM Supermalls prioritizes sustainability in its operations, evident through its various waste management programs and water conservation facilities. Additionally, 50 percent of the energy consumed by SM malls nationwide now comes from renewable sources. This aligns with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Roadmap 2017-2040 of the Department of Energy, which aims to “build an energy-efficient nation and make energy efficiency and conservation a way of life for all Filipinos.” This clean energy not only lightens the load of conventional power plants but also generates enough power to sustain 260,000 homes in a single day, based on the average daily electrical consumption of a Filipino household.
SM Cares serves as the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, aiming to drive sustainability and community development through various initiatives. Their programs cover a wide range of areas, including Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth. Additionally, they have launched the Bike-Friendly SM initiative and environmental programs to further support their cause.
To learn more about these initiatives and how SM Cares is making a positive impact on the community, visit their website at www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.
