As the Philippines joins the world in observing Earth Hour, Ayala Malls reaffirms its commitment to environmental sustainability that extends far beyond a single hour of symbolic darkness.
Eco-Friendly Cooling
Ayala Malls provides a relaxing and enjoyable experience for mallgoers, even during the intense summer heat, through advanced chilled water systems that efficiently absorb excess heat and regulate indoor temperatures – ensuring a consistently cool and refreshing atmosphere for all visitors.
Traditionally, fresh municipal water is used, but Ayala Malls’ innovative water recycling initiatives make their cooling systems sustainable and eco-friendly. Through a dedicated sewage treatment plant within its facilities, Ayala Malls treats wastewater from mall sinks, restrooms, toilets, and merchants’ kitchens, and repurposes it for use in cooling towers. This reduces pollution and fresh water dependence, lowers the carbon footprint by saving energy and resources, and ensures a reliable water supply even during summer or shortages.
Operationally, this approach helps Ayala Malls meet Green Building Standards like LEED and comply with water conservation regulations. It reduces consumption and costs by using economical treated water, and lowers maintenance costs and breakdowns by decreasing scaling and corrosion.
Transforming Waste to Value
Beyond water conservation, Ayala Malls is also committed to reducing waste and promoting a circular economy. Ayala Malls’ partnership with Chop Value Philippines recycles used chopsticks from the Malls’ food courts into furniture and other pieces such as coffee and side tables, wooden serving trays and rustic drinks coasters. From July 2024 to present, over 4.7 million chopsticks have been recycled from the malls, amounting to over 230,000 kgs of carbon dioxide emissions saved.
Another ongoing partnership with Green Trident works to implement a circular waste management disposal system where clean dry plastics from the malls are recycled and repurposed as Poly AL pro boards, an eco-friendly alternative for wood and cement boards, and Papel ni Juan for multi-purpose bond papers. Over 32,000 clean dry plastics were collected across 18 Ayala Malls nationwide last year, and the momentum continues this 2025 with over 15,000 plastics collected in just the first 2 months.
“At Ayala Malls, we believe that sustainability is not just a responsibility, but an opportunity,” says Paul Birkett, Ayala Malls Chief Operating Officer. “Our advanced chilled water systems that operate with recycled water not only make our malls more environment-friendly but also more competitive and resilient. In addition, we are actively pursuing partnerships to recycle waste and promote a circular economy, diverting materials from landfills and repurposing them for new uses. Best of all, we are conserving resources for other important sectors as we take a big leap forward in our journey to our sustainability goals as a company.”
Ayala Malls’ sustainability programs align with Ayala Land’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. These collective efforts not only reduce environmental impact but also demonstrate a steadfast commitment to creating a sustainable and thriving community for generations to come.
As the lights dim for Earth Hour, Ayala Malls invites Filipinos to join them in embracing sustainable practices that extend beyond a single hour, contributing to a brighter and more prosperous future for the nation.
