Earth Hour, the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment, took place last March 26 at 8:30pm, offering a message of solidarity for people and the planet.

As part of the company’s sustainability efforts, SM Malls in Olongapo, Pampanga, Clark, Tarlac, Cabanatuan and the rest of SM malls nationwide took part in the symbolic “SWITCH OFF” which this year seeks to communicate a safer, fairer and more sustainable future for everyone.

During the one-hour “switchoff”, lights of mall signages, mall façade, dropdown banners were 100% turned off, while hallways, lobbies, perimeters and tenants store interior lightings were minimized to 50% without disrupting the store operation.

Through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm SM Cares, SM Supermalls has been supporting Earth Hour for the last 14 years. Aside from joining the campaign, SM has been active in environmental protection. All SM malls are equipped with energy and water conservation facilities. The company also regularly joins tree planting activities, and has waste management initiatives such as Trash-to-Cash, e-waste and used acid lead batteries collection programs, and the plastic waste collection program.

SM’s other sustainability initiatives include the annual Green Film Festival, promoting environmental awareness among students and the youth through films; the AweSMSeas project, promoting awareness on the negative impact of plastic waste on seas and oceans; and the International Coastal Cleanup joined by thousands of volunteers every year, to name a few.

Earth Hour is an annual campaign by the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that encourages the turning off of non-essential lights as part of energy conservation efforts for the planet. SM has been joining the campaign every year, one of the first in the private sector to support it.