Composed primarily of women, local bag artisans from Bulacan created and assembled the bags from the tarpaulins of SM Store.
PASAY CITY, PHILIPPINES, April 12, 2024—SM, through the SM Green Finds program, will launch a collaboration project with social enterprises to emphasize the significance of circularity. The project is aligned with the SM group’s thrust of upholding environmental stewardship and sustaining a green culture.
Under the SM Green Movement, the group-wide, multi-year sustainability campaign of the SM group focused on the environment, the SM Green Finds aims to make it easier for consumers to choose green. The initiative promotes products that are eco-friendly, made from natural and local ingredients and support local communities while also helping empower MSME partners in their own green practices.
The SM Green Finds x The Tarp Project is the recent campaign of SM Finds, a collaboration with known social entrepreneur Zarah Juan. The project aims to create beautiful bags out of used tarpaulins from the SM Store.
SM Green Finds x Zarah Juan’s The Tarp Project
The project has become a community effort as the process starts with the collection of used tarpaulins. They were then repurposed and given new life through assistance from Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in Quezon City, tasked with cleaning and cutting the tarpaulins.
For Dhinno Tiu, SM Store Executive Vice President, “The partnership of SM Store with Zarah Juan promotes circularity and seeks to empower local communities by cultivating their competencies and promote livelihood. Our collaboration with social enterprises can help further drive a more sustainable positive change in the communities we partner with.”
Local bag artisans from Bulacan then printed and assembled the bags.
A long-time partner on social enterprise campaigns, Filipino designer Juan shared that it is a privilege to help promote circularity and green living with SM Store.
“The seamless coordination of the project hinges on the careful consideration of each step and aspect of the design process. Moreover, I prioritized ensuring that the colors and prints transcend fleeting trends, aiming for enduring appeal and longevity, a reflection of the bag’s overarching purpose,” Juan shared.
The tote bags and pouches from this initiative will be available at SM Store Makati, SM Store Aura, SM Store Megamall, SM Store MOA, and SM Store North EDSA. Sale proceeds from the Tarp Project will be donated to the SM Foundation’s youth and education initiatives, furthering the social impact of the campaign.