What's your pledge for the environment?
MANILA, Philippines - The pledges, which the guests wrote on the message wall, ranged from the “doable” to the “ambitious:” “I pledge to pick up trash;” “grow my own garden;” “plant 100,000 trees in five years.” The event, on the eve of Earth Day, which marked its 40th anniversary this year, was the celebration of SM Supermarket’s 25th anniversary and the launch of the next phase of its Green Bag project, the pioneering program to help save the environment.
Since SM Supermarket first opened its doors in its Makati location in 1985, it has grown to become the anchor of the food retail business of the SM Group of Companies, with over two dozen supermarkets and hypermarkets as well as numerous Save More and Makro stores nationwide, making it one of the country’s largest store chains.
It was just about the same time that disposable plastic grocery bags, which were introduced in supermarkets in the ‘70s, quickly picked up. By the ‘80s, they were widely being used, replacing paper and cloth bags. But plastic bags have become a cause of major environmental concerns. With raised consciousness and environmental awareness of late, however, we are seeing the return of the reusable bag, not only as a fad but also as a statement and a commitment as well.
The SM Green Bag project aims to reduce the use of plastic bags and instead, encourage the use of recyclable bags through the My Own Bag (MOB) campaign. Since it was launched in 2009, 3.3 million plastic bags were saved, preventing it from adding up to the country’s mounting waste disposal problem.
“SM is in a unique position to give back to the environment. Green is in now, but we want to take it from being just a fad to a way of life,” said SM Supermarket’s Hendrik Sy. “We want to do our part and encourage our shoppers to help save the world with us. Our hope is to trigger a chain reaction and make the Green Bag our first step towards a sustainable future. The Philippines has given us so much, it’s time we do our share in giving back to our country.”
The SM Green Bag project is a partnership between SM Supermarket and Unilever Philippines. Since its launch, over two million Green Bags have been sold.
Unilever ambassador Jan Zijderveld encouraged everyone to support the green bag initiative. “It may be a small action,” he said, “but it can all add up and make a huge difference.”
SM also chose 25 young and talented individuals to comprise the Food Council that will promote the company’s various efforts to help its customers maximize their shopping experience. Marking 25 years of bringing the widest selection of merchandise and quality service, SM Supermarket rewarded its shoppers with a “buy one, take one” promo on the SM Green Bag for its original price of P35. SM Supermarket also offered a special anniversary sale to thank its most loyal shoppers.
“We are proud of how SM Supermarket has grown,” Hendrik Sy remarked. “It couldn’t have been done without our dear shoppers.”
With the anniversary’s theme for this year, “We’re 25 years because of You!,” SM rewards SM Advantage, Prestige, and BDO Rewards cardholders with an exclusive shopping list that qualified them to exciting promos such as getting 25 SM Advantage points and buying selected items for only P25. The new SM logo was also revealed and serves “as a progressive sign of their 25th year in the business, giving their loyal customers more improvements to look forward to.”
Celebrity couple Suzi Entrata and Paolo Abrera, who also belong to the SM Food Council, hosted the afternoon program which showcased a fashion show by Miss Philippines-Earth winners demonstrating the many ways to use and carry the SM Green Bag, designed by noted Filipino artist Manny Baldemor. The highlight was the special participation of celebrity endorsers Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi, together with their charming twins. Carmina remarked that Zoren wanted their kids to take part in the campaign so that “even at an early age, they will know their responsibility with regard to the environment.”
