SM Prime promotes Green Retail Agenda

MANILA, Philippines - SM Prime Holdings Inc., Philippines’ largest mall developer and operator, is pushing for higher awareness on business sustainability amid climate change.

The shopping mall arm of conglomerate SM Investments Corp. last week tackled business continuity during the annual Green Retail Agenda conference.

“We are all partners in ensuring the safety of our customers and communities through disaster preparedness and risk reduction efforts,” said SM Prime president Hans T. Sy.

The SM Green Retail Agenda is a yearly, large-scale symposium hosted by SM Supermalls for all tenants, suppliers, contractors and business partners.

It features topics on the latest technology, processes and innovations in sustainable business operations, as well as current environmental issues.

“We believe that promoting awareness about sustainability and business continuity especially among our tenants and the society in general is a very good investment,” Sy said.

The Philippines ranked third in the countries most exposed to the effects of climate change like stronger storms, floods, earthquakes and drought, data from the United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security showed.

The Green Retail Agenda focused on disaster risk resilience, logistics programs and sustainable best practices to empower the retail business in preparation for the unforeseen effects of climate change.

In May, Sy represented the Private Sector Advisory Group in the Global Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction by the UN International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, Switzerland.

Sy shared SM Prime’s efforts towards disaster risk reduction before a global audience. SM Prime owns and operates 47 SM Supermalls in the Philippines and five in China.

“All SM malls integrate sustainability efforts, which focus on solid waste management, energy and water conservation and air quality,” SM Prime said.

For instance, the state-of-the-art SM Aura Premier in Taguig City aims to be one of the first civic centers in the country to be certified Gold under the US Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, an internationally-recognized green building program established in 135 countries.

In China, SM Prime is venturing into renewable energy projects that form part of the company’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and optimize energy efficiency in its malls.

SM Prime recently completed the $2 million, 1.1-megawatt rooftop solar power project in SM Xiamen, the first of its kind in Xiamen that is located in Fujian Province, China.

Aside from SM City Xiamen, SM Prime also put up a thermal energy storage plant in SM City Jinjiang.

It allows the company to significantly reduce the mall’s utility and energy bills through the ice-based cooling system.