CHI launches "Greenology" campaign

CEBU, Philippines - With climate change now becoming one of the most important issues that needs utmost attention, Cebu’s real estate giant Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) recently launched a sustainable development campaign promoting environmental awareness.

“It is time that we involve not only our mall tenants but also the mall-goers to be proactive in helping protect the environment,” said CHI President Francis Monera during the launching of the mall’s “Greenology” campaign.

CHI, the developer and operator of Ayala Center Cebu (ACC) shopping center, will pioneer a very active move in educating shoppers to embrace full responsibility on environment awareness, through introducing year-long activities that promotes environmental protection.

One activity is the drive to eliminate or reduce the use of plastic shopping bags.

Monera explained that shoppers are given incentives when they turn over plastic shopping bags that contain items purchased inside ACC.

The Greenology campaign will also feature environment-friendly bags produced by Filipino designers, “green” garments and recyclables fair, among others.

This campaign according to Monera came as an offshoot of CHI’s sustainable development policy by implementing a sound management system that involves a collaborative effort by the company’s employees, partners, and tenants.

According to CHI, the system involves creating of a sustainability committee; raising awareness among employees, tenants and partners on the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development; implementing energy and water conservation programs; tree planting; and setting in place a solid waste management program.

CHI supports the principle of sustainable development, in which the property developer undertakes measures to ensure that its business activities have little or no impact on the environment, Monera said.

“We put sustainability at the core of the business,” Monera said, citing for instance the mall’s The Terraces, which carries a resort-theme- combining several plant varieties and water fountains surrounded by shops and restaurants.

“Others commented that we could have utilized the garden portion to accommodate more tenants and rake more revenues. But the ‘green portion’ is our way of sending out a message that our projects carry with it our efforts in raising environmental awareness,” he said.

As part of its sustainability program, CHI will start calculating this year the carbon footprint of each employee. The activity is meant to raise the awareness of CHI employees on how their activities contribute to climate change.

Monera said CHI will eventually require employees to reduce their carbon footprint. But the company has to educate employees before establishing benchmarks and setting targets, he added.

Elson Homez, CHI head for property management division, reported that since it implemented energy and water saving measures last year, CHI has cut power consumption by 8.7 percent and achieved a three-percent reduction in water consumption.