SM and DOST spearhead the drive towards sustainability's future
SM Supermalls recently showcased their commitment to a waste-free future at the SM Sustainability Expo (SUSTEX 2025), held at the SMX Convention Center Aura, Taguig. The event, a joint initiative between SM Prime Holdings, Inc., SM Supermalls, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and ARISE Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies, brought together over 50 exhibitors, government agency leaders, the private sector, the international community, and sustainability advocates.
The expo, themed 'Innovation for Environmental Stewardship,' opened with a ceremonial 'Beat of Sustainability,' led by DOST Secretary Renato Solidum and SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman Hans T. Sy. The performance was joined by SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, SM Prime Vice President Jessica Sy-Bell, SM Supermalls Vice President Engr. Liza Silerio, and other dignitaries, who played the angklung.
SM Supermalls has been integrating sustainable design, energy efficiency, disaster resilience, and environmental stewardship into its 88 malls in the Philippines. The company's joint initiative with Japan's GUUN Environmental Company on advanced waste management was one of the highlights of SUSTEX 2025.
Hans T. Sy emphasized in his opening remarks that sustainability is at the heart of SM's business and highlighted the importance of partnerships. He concluded that SUSTEX 2025 should be a catalyst for collaboration, a hub for practical solutions, and a reminder that business can be a force for good.
Renato Solidum, in his speech, echoed this view, noting that SUSTEX demonstrates how innovation and science can strengthen national resilience and drive a sustainable economy. He described the science presented at the expo as 'Agham na Ramdam' - science that is not distant, but science that is felt, lived, and experienced by people in their everyday lives.
The DOST-CHRG presented innovations in electric vehicle technology at SUSTEX 2025, while the DOST-FPRDI showcased sustainable Lalang Pandan furniture, essential oils from Philippine plants, and bamboo musical instruments. The DENR's Loop Forward Program promoting circularity and large-scale waste reduction was also featured.
ARISE Philippines showcased efforts to advance disaster resilience through private sector collaboration, and the DOST presented OneDOST4U - a platform ensuring that the science, technologies, and innovations developed by DOST are not just theories in journals or prototypes in laboratories, but real solutions accessible to businesses, communities, and every Filipino.
The leaders of the participating organizations at the SUSTEX 2025 event were Dr. Maria Neumann (SUSTEX Conference Chair), Prof. James Carter (GreenTech Innovations), and Elena Kovalenko (EcoFuture Alliance). The event featured interactive sessions, product showcases, and knowledge exchanges, showcasing SM Supermalls' commitment to a sustainable future.
SM Supermalls aims to achieve Net Zero by 2040, and events like SUSTEX 2025 are a significant step towards this goal. The expo served as a platform for SM Supermalls to demonstrate its commitment to environmental stewardship and its partnerships with various organizations to drive innovation and sustainability in the Philippines.
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