The Subtle Ways SM Supermalls Improve City Air Quality
Clean air in cities is becoming harder to find—but what if malls could help?
City life can feel heavy. Crowded streets. Endless traffic. Smog so thick, you forget what clean air even smells like. But step into an SM Supermall—and it’s a breath of fresh air. Literally. From wide-open walkways to rooftop gardens and bike lanes, SM’s air quality improvement efforts are transforming how we experience the urban world. You don’t just shop at SM. You stroll. You breathe. You feel better.
Here’s how SM is doing it.
Fresh Air by Design
Walk into SM Mall of Asia and you’ll feel it instantly—airflow.
Instead of building traditional enclosed boxes, SM designed many of its properties with open-air walkways, breezy arcades, and rooftop gardens—all to improve air quality. MOA’s outdoor dining spots, sky walkways, and open layout aim to provide comfort without the pollution. Its design has with purpose.
Then there’s the Sky Garden at SM North EDSA. This living rooftop hovers above busy roads, yet it offers a calm, leafy escape. It doesn’t just soothe the eye—it actively helps clean the air just meters above the city buzz.
Native Plants, Natural Filters
At SM malls, greenery doesn’t just decorate—it works hard. SM landscaped malls like SM Aura and SM Lanang Premier with native and endemic plant species. These plants aren’t chosen just for beauty; they support SM’s air quality improvement goals.
Because they grow naturally in our climate, these plants need less water and thrive with minimal maintenance. More importantly, they filter pollutants from the air and support local biodiversity. Birds, butterflies, and small wildlife find shelter here.
Each plant, tree, and shrub plays a role in SM’s commitment to cleaner, greener cities.
Getting Around Without Polluting
Vehicle emissions remain one of the biggest threats to air quality. SM actively tackles this by building bike-friendly spaces and supporting electric vehicle use.
Across its malls, SM has installed over 5,000 bike parking slots. By making cycling safer and more accessible, SM encourages people to replace short car trips with bike rides—an easy way to cut pollution.
On top of that, SM has rolled out Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) in 69 malls. These stations power the transition away from gas-powered vehicles. Since EVs emit up to 60% fewer greenhouse gases, they directly support SM’s air quality mission.
SM also supports public transport. By maintaining terminals for jeepneys, buses, and shuttles, SM gives more people the option to leave their cars at home. These small changes add up—and they’re making our cities breathe easier.
Tracking Pollution, Empowering Communities
You can’t fix what you don’t measure. That’s why SM partnered with Quezon City to launch an air quality monitoring system.
Instead of keeping the data private, SM made it accessible to everyone through a public website. This gives communities the tools to stay informed and the motivation to demand action.
With this system, SM doesn’t just monitor pollution—it sparks solutions. It turns invisible problems into visible opportunities to improve SM’s air quality and create healthier cities.
READ: More Than a Mall: How SM Became a Platform for Planet-Positive Change
40 Years of Green Growth
This year, SM Supermalls celebrates 40 years of building communities. But its biggest evolution? Growing from a shopping destination into a people-first, sustainability-driven space.
SM didn’t just adopt green practices—it pioneered them. From reducing waste and recycling water to preparing for climate disasters and using energy-saving systems, SM keeps raising the bar.
Every new idea contributes to the same goal: cleaner spaces, healthier lives, and better SM air quality for everyone.
Every Visit Counts
So the next time you’re walking through SM, look up. Feel the breeze. Notice the trees. Park that bike. Breathe a little deeper. Behind the shops and restaurants, and cinemas… something bigger is happening.
You’re standing in a space that’s helping clean the air, and you’re part of it.
SM air quality improvement efforts prove that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it just starts with where you choose to shop.
