SM receives pcci excellence in ecology and economy award

PresidentArroyo and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Miguel Valera recently conferred the PCCI’s E3 Award for Excellence in Ecology and Economy to the SM Supermalls during the recent 34th Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel.

SM was cited for its continuous efforts in promoting environmental awareness in its malls, as well as for its initiatives in promoting eco-friendly and sustainable development. SM’s Shopping Centers Management Corp. president Annie Garcia received the award together with assistant vice president Lisa B. Silerio, who heads its environmental committee.

PCCI’s E3 Award was first launched in 2003 to recognize individual enterprises that have demonstrated the most innovative and outstanding environmental performance as part of their sustainable development strategy thereby delivering business benefits.

This award, which maintains that Good Environment Makes Good Business, generated significant interest from small, medium, and large enterprises nationwide. These enterprises belong to the growing number of outstanding businesses countrywide, who have recognized that incorporating environmental concerns into their business practices is the way forward and will bring them and their community tangible benefits.

SM’s ongoing ecological programs have four components that have been an integral part of its operations and business practices: waste management, water conservation, air quality efficiency, and energy quality efficiency. Apart from being good business practices that have a sustainable impact on the mall and the environment, these green programs ultimately benefit customers through its efforts to create more eco-awareness.

To create more awareness about the environment, SM has shown the Al Gore documentary An Inconvenient Truth at selected cinemas, as well as organized a conference about Sustainability, Energy, and Green Design at the SMX Convention Center. SM Supermalls has also actively participated in various activities like the Earth Day celebration, the Earth Hour, and tree planting endeavors.

For its efforts, SM’s Environmental Committee has gained recognition through citations like the Fr. Neri Satur Award for Environmental Heroism; a commendation from the Business and Environment Publication; as well as SM Supercenter Pasig’s Gawad Kalikasan ng Pasig Award from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

The SM Supermalls Environmental Committee’s plans for 2009 include promoting Green Design by converting its lighting systems to CFL, and introducing solar powered lampposts. It also hopes to provide cellphone and battery bins in its malls as well launching a Green Bag for the SM Supermalls.

As a business entity, SM is not only concerned about profit, but also in increasing efficiency and savings which can only be accomplished by tapping natural resources and addressing environmental concerns. The company believes that going green is profitable and good for business, and for its customers.