Empowered to Protect: April Coastal Cleanups

Step by step, bag by bag—SM employees move with purpose along the SM By the Bay, turning their mornings into a meaningful mission for the environment.

SM By the BAY Empowers 272 Volunteers to Clean Over a Ton of Trash in April Coastal Cleanup Drive.  True to its commitment to environmental stewardship, SM By the Bay organized 272 workers and volunteers to collect 1,147 kg of rubbish throughout the month of April as part of its weekly coastal cleanup operations.

Volunteers from SM Supermalls—including employees, customer relations staff, and janitorial personnel—come together after a successful coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay, united by a shared commitment to protecting our oceans and building a #SMWasteFreeFuture.

Every week, SM employees, customer service representatives, and janitors led cleanup efforts along the Manila Bay shoreline, reaffirming the company's commitment for community-driven, group action.  In addition to restoring the natural beauty of the shoreline, the project contributed to increased public understanding of environmental responsibility and ocean conservation.

The U.N. Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water, which prioritizes preventing pollution and degradation of marine life and coastal habitats, is still supported by the campaign.  In light of the ongoing threat posed by plastic and waste to ocean biodiversity, initiatives such as these show that sustained community involvement can have a lasting effect.

SM volunteers in action during the April coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay, working together to remove marine debris and protect our shoreline—one bag at a time.

Over a ton of trash collected by SM volunteers during the April 2025 coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay—each bag a step closer to a cleaner, healthier marine environment.

Participants from SM Supermalls take part in the April cleanup at SM By the Bay, showing that teamwork and purpose go a long way in protecting coastal communities.

Through a spirit of volunteerism and purpose, the initiative also promoted camaraderie among SM stakeholders, who worked together toward a #SMWasteFreeFuture.

To sustain this momentum, SM Cares is inviting the public to join the upcoming Coastal Cleanup in celebration of World Oceans Day on June 7, 2025.

Participating malls include:

SM By the Bay, SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro, SM City Sta. Mesa, SM City Rosario, SM City Batangas, SM City Lipa, SM City Bacolod, SM City Iloilo, SM City Davao, SM City CDO Downtown, SM City Tanza, SM City Lucena, and SM Center Dagupan.

Let’s continue making every bag of collected trash count—because caring for the Earth begins with our shores.