SM Supermalls at forefront of environmental initiatives, says its president
SM Supermalls President Steven Tan tells the Manila Times during its Sustainability Expo in Taguig on Aug. 29, 2025 that the company has been at the forefront of environmental initiatives since the 1990s. Tan also emphasized that environmental conservation is a responsibility that big companies must take seriously.
VIDEO BY ALLEN LIMOS
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00:00You know, a long time ago, I remember, by the way, we started doing all these things, even as early as the early 90s, when Megamall opened in 1991, I believe, we were already recycling water during that time.
00:17During that time, water are dirt cheap. Really, it's not. So people were asking, you're going to invest in such a big project, which is very expensive, which is very costly. Well, the cost of water was still very cheap.
00:34But I believe that this is not just about business. You know, this is more of responsibility. As a big business like us, it is important that we really push the envelope and do something that is impactful.
00:51A couple of years ago, maybe around three, four years ago, EV charging. No one was driving e-vehicle during that time. It was like four or five years ago. Just right after the pandemic, I remember that.
01:06But no one was, you know, charging our EV charging station. But SM was the first company in the Philippines to install EV charges across our malls, from Luzon all the way down to Mintanao.
01:23Why did we do that? In the beginning, no one was charging. In the first few weeks, zero. Every day, it's zero.
01:31But little by little, because people see it, we make it really bright. We make it really the color to be that. It's mind-setting.
01:41Nowadays, you know, we have several of them. It's not even enough. Somebody has to start it. And I believe that it is the big company's responsibility, that just role, responsibility to push that envelope.
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