Think green

What do British designer Anya Hindmarch and Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor have in common? Well, both artists have created environmental awareness with their respective works of art.

In 2007, Hindmarch started a stampede not just in New York but around the globe when her eco-friendly “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” totes hit the stores. The message is simple: Save the environment, decline plastic bags.

“I’m Not a Plastic Bag” has become a vehicle for behavioral change. In malls and supermarkets, green-minded shoppers are now refusing to take plastic bags for their purchases. They just get the receipt and then dump their loots in their own bags.

In an effort to inspire a wider range of shoppers to go green, visual artist Manuel Baldemor joined the bandwagon and collaborated with SM Supermalls to design their latest reusable shopping bag — the SM Green Bag.

In 2007, SM Supermalls and Unilever launched the SM Green Bag, the first re-usable shopping bag of its kind in the country, to help raise consciousness about the sad plight of our environment. It is part of a CSR program initiated by SM Supermarkets, which aims to protect the environment by minimizing the use of plastic bags in shopping.

The eye-catching chartreuse green bag now comes in four designs created by the multi-awarded artist.

Born in Paete, Laguna, Baldemor has always had a deep respect and appreciation for the environment.

“I spent my youth catching kanduli, dalag, and carpa from the pristine waters of Laguna de Bay. As an artist, I am a keen observer of people and nature. I’ve seen how our environment has deteriorated over the years. Well, it’s about time that we did something about it. It’s never too late,” Baldemor says.

Baldemor has crafted four exclusive designs for the SM Green Bag based on the environmental themes of energy, air, land, and sea. The artworks — “Spiritual Light & Supreme Energy,” “Graces from the Air,” “Graces from the Land,” and “Graces from the Sea” — reflect Baldemor’s love of nature and his optimism for a “greener” future.

Through this undertaking, Baldemor hopes that people will start re-assessing their habits and realize that it is by “instigating small changes that one can truly start making a significant difference.”

“I’m grateful that SM Supermalls and Unilever asked me to be part of this project. As an artist, you want your work to touch people in a positive way. The latest collection of SM Green Bag is right on target,” Baldemor enthuses.

SM Green Bag celebrity endorsers Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi started a shopping frenzy when they announced that Baldemor just signed their reusable bags, turning the utility items into a prized art piece.

Guests and mall patrons who attended the SM Green Bag launch at SM Mall of Asia bought their own bags and begged Baldemor for an autograph.

Making The Green Choice

Thinking green is now becoming a global phenomenon. Consumers and concerned companies worldwide are now focusing their attention and resources on environmental responsibility.

Pioneering efforts to promote eco-shopping in the Philippine retail industry, SM Supermalls have implemented several projects that promote environmental sustainability and the SM Green Bag is just one of them.

“Under our solid-waste management program, our tenants segregate their garbage into recyclable, biodegradable and residual waste. SM is also into waste-trade market where shoppers can trade their trash for cash. We can all do our share in saving the environment. You can start now by patronizing the SM Green Bag,” enthuses Annie Garcia, president, Shopping Center Management Corporation.

The SM Green Bag enables shoppers to participate in the global cause to reduce the use of non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags. It is made from 100-percent polypropylene material, which is recyclable, non-toxic, allery-free, and non-reactive to human skin.

“The Green Bag’s size is equivalent to two regular shopping bags and has an estimated lifespan of two years of weekly use,” explains Garcia.

The use of the SM Supermalls Green Bags also has its perks. SM Advantage cardholders are automatically entitled to two points upon presentation of their SM Advantage card if they use it at any SM Supermarket and/or Hypermarket.

“SM Supermalls is committed to be a venue for change and care. We shall continue to humanize issues and popularize environmental concerns by taking them straight to the people in our malls through our green bag,” adds Garcia.

Hopefully, the popularity of re-usable bags here and abroad would drastically cut down the volume of disposable plastic polluting our environment.

The SM Green Bag is a steal at P35 each with every P500 single or accumulated receipt purchase. For each bag sold, P1 will go to an environment NGO.

Now is the right time to think green. Avail of the new SM Green Bags at all SM Supermalls nationwide until April 30 and help save the environment.