MANILA, Philippines - The scientific community may still be arguing over whether climate change is really as bad as people think, but everyone agrees that something should be done to protect the environment.

For corporations these days to be perceived as contributing to earth?s destruction is to do so at their own peril. Consumers are more enlightened than ever before and demand that their money only contribute to the bottom line of good corporate citizens.

Environment consciousness is certainly more heightened in developed countries, but more companies here are jumping on the earth-friendly bandwagon, realizing that their customers will reward them for it.

Supermarket chains like the SM and Rustan?s groups are among the most visible in the fight to protect the environment, with the launching of their recyclable bags.

SM calls it the ?SM Greenbag? while Rustan?s has its Earth Friendly shopping bag. Both are made of fabric and, by offering these alternatives, the stores hope to encourage their customers to use them instead of the usual plastic grocery bags.

The recyclable bags were launched last year and the results have been encouraging.

According to SM vice president Millie Dizon, SM Supermarket sold 87,140 greenbags from September last year to February this year, and another 150,954 were redeemed by customers through its yellow tag promo from December 2007 to February 2008.

She noted that over 300,000 shoppers have used the greenbags for grocery shopping from June 2007 to March 2008.

gThe SM Greenbag posts a favorable usage count every month. There are also incentives for customers who use the greenbags, as they earn two bonus points on their SM Advantage Card every time they use it,? Dizon said.

?The campaign?s main goal is not so much sales, but to create environmental awareness among consumers,? she added.

Rustan?s Supercenters Inc., which operates 22 Rustan?s supermarkets and seven Shopwise hypermarkets, has the same objective. Rustan?s launched its Earth Friendly Program on Earth Day (April 22) last year, and from July 2007 year to the end of March this year, it has sold about 63,000 bags. This has reportedly reduced plastic bag consumption by 5.5 million.

Rustan?s has also entered into a partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature, under which a portion of its sales from earth-friendly products are donated to the institution?s advocacies. Over half a million pesos has so far been remitted to WWF as of end-March.

On April 22, Rustan?s took its campaign for the environment to another level with the launch of its Earth Friendly Shopping List. On this day, all customers carrying the reusable bag received the Earth Friendly shopping list for free.

?As a supermarket we have access to a huge consuming public and a certain amount of influence over consuming habits. We want to influence our various markets to lead healthier lifestyles, be more concerned over the environment and to be more educated and responsible consumers in general,? explained Rustan?s Supercenters marketing manager Frances Yu.

The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), whose membership includes the foundations of the country?s biggest companies, has noted that Philippine companies in general have become more conscious of the effects of their operations and activities on the environment.

It is not only because they are closely scrutinized by customers, but also because they realize that they need to keep the environment healthy to sustain their business over the long term.

LCF is helping its members take a long hard look at their companies? impact on the environment by holding seminars on greenhouse gas accounting. In this way, the members can calculate just how much harmful greenhouse gases they produce so they can better figure out how to improve operations to cut back on emissions.

?Who wouldn?t want to preserve our beautiful country? I think Philippine firms are more conscious than ever about the environment. We all just have to share best practices that are easy to do to get everyone involved,? said LCF president Pacita U. Juan. ?It all starts with baby steps like changing light bulbs. When you feel the double green effect―cost effective and environmentally compliant―it can become a habit.?

It?s definitely a habit that everyone should pick up.