SM Cares and Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX), in partnership with Nestle Philippines and PricewaterhouseCoopers recently launched their Plastic Waste Collection Program at SM North Edsa and SM City Fairview, making it accessible to more communities, in line with efforts to bring the initiative to all SM malls nationwide.
The plastic waste collection program aims to promote sustainable use and responsible disposal of plastic waste. Quezon City residents may now bring their empty, clean, and dry plastic waste, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at SM City Fairview (Located between Terminal A and Open Parking B) and SM City North Edsa (Located at Annex Building Driveway). Plastic waste collection is still ongoing at SM Megamall (RDU area, Building B Supermarket), and SM Mall of Asia (North Parking Building near SM Hypermarket).
“Through this Plastic Waste Collection program, we want to provide another way for consumers to be able to dispose of their plastic waste more responsibly. With the addition of two of our bigger malls in Quezon City, we hope that more people will be inspired to do their part in caring for the planet, and living more sustainably,” said SM Cares Program Director on Environment, Engr. Liza B. Silerio.
“These additional locations from the SM partnership provide a key element for more people to be mindful about the plastics that we use at home. Our hope is that as we see and take effort in responsibly disposing of our plastics, it becomes a constant reminder that we should reduce the use of plastics as much as we can,” said PCX Standards and Compliance Manager Richard De Guzman.
“At Nestlé Philippines, we are leading with initiatives to tackle plastic waste. By 2025, we aim for our packaging to be recyclable or reusable. We are also helping to educate the public about the importance of proper waste management. Recognizing the complexity of the plastic waste issue, we are happy to be collaborating with like-minded partners. Through this partnership, we are able to provide access to more collection points for our consumers so their waste can be reprocessed. By working together, we can create a bigger impact, and accelerate our journey to a waste-free future,” said Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki.
The following types of plastics are accepted: PET (soda bottles, furniture), HDPE (bottles, grocery bags, pouches), LDPE (grocery bags, containers, dispensing bottles), PP (car parts, food containers, dishware), and PS (cafeteria trays, plastic utensils, toys). Other plastic types except for PVC are also accepted.
Since February of this year, more than 1,600 kg of plastic waste has been collected from SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia. According to the program’s knowledge partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, this is equivalent to 1,863.075kg of CO2 emissions, or about 226,629 smartphones charged or 7,534.949 km driven by an average passenger vehicle.
This initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12, which promotes sustainable consumption and production patterns including in the use of plastics, and SDG 14, which promotes conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
Plastic Credit Exchange is the world’s first global, non-profit, fully integrated plastic offset platform. PCX offers a seamless, traceable, and effective solution to offsetting post-consumer plastics responsibly to ensure they don’t wind up in nature.
SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility of SM Supermalls, with programs to support communities, promote social inclusion and care for the environment. Its advocacies include Programs for the Environment, Persons with Disabilities, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the creation of bike-friendly SM Malls across the country.
SM’s other external initiatives for the environment include the Trash to Cash recycling market; the Electronic Waste Collection program; the annual Green Film Festival which promotes environmental awareness to students; and the AweSMSeas campaign on marine plastic pollution, in partnership with USAID and PRRCFI, to name a few.
To know more about SM CARES, visit https://www.smsupermalls.com/smcares/ and https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares/.