U-Haul has surpassed $400,000 in customer contributions to Tree Canada, a nonprofit dedicated to planting and protecting trees in Canada.
More than 190,000 customers at U-Haul locations across Canada have contributed approximately $414,000 since the partnership began in December 2011, providing funds to plant or protect 40,743 trees to date. Every cent of the contributions goes directly to Tree Canada.
The trees U-Haul customers are helping plant and protect will absorb 45,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide in their lives. As these trees grow and develop into forests, they will provide a habitat for wildlife and preserve natural ecosystems.
Eterne Award
In 2016, Tree Canada awarded U-Haul its prestigious Eterne Award. This award goes to organizations who exemplify the very best in environmental stewardship. Since 1945, U-Haul has committed to conducting business in a socially responsible manner by helping to protect the environment. This continues today by offering customers the option to donate to Tree Canada’s Grow Clean Air program to offset their carbon emissions when using a U-Haul moving truck.
Jennifer Anstett, U-Haul Canada area district vice president, stated: “U-Haul Canada is a leader in sustainability initiatives in our industry. We’re committed to the communities we serve, and to reducing our carbon footprint through the initiatives in which we participate. Being a positive corporate citizen in Canada is our U-Haul mandate. We have helped to plant trees in a variety of locations to support local communities and reforest areas so that future generations may enjoy them. We are proud to be a partner of Tree Canada. I look forward to our ongoing collaboration.”
Many Projects
Each year, U-Haul works with Tree Canada to identify areas of need for both reforestation projects and urban tree-canopy projects. U-Haul customer funding has sponsored projects such as: planting 5,000 seedlings in Sudbury, providing 161 emerald ash borer treatments for mature trees to protect the urban forest of Peterborough, planting 20,000 trees to reforest Kamloops in an area devastated by mountain pine beetles and wildfires, planting 1,600 trees for the Como Creek Restoration project in Coquitlam, placing 11,250 willow and balsam poplar seedlings outside Calgary, planting 20 trees in Paddock Trail Park, Niagara Falls, sponsorship for Operation ReLeaf Fort McMurray to plant 2,000 trees ravaged by the 2016 fires, planting 48 fruit trees in Kingston for a restoration project with school children, providing 664 emerald ash borer treatments to protect the urban canopy of Beaconsfield, and providing funding to replace urban trees lost in 2017 through Operation ReLeaf BC Fires.
The summer 2018 schedule also includes U-Haul customer-funded tree plantings in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Leading the Way
“U-Haul Canada is the leader in sustainability initiatives throughout the truck-sharing industry,” said Jake Spelic, another area district vice president for U-Haul Canada. “Our mandate to instill a long-term approach to serving our customers with the finest equipment at the lowest cost makes us a valuable corporate citizen in the communities where we live and serve. We are committed to serving our customers, our neighbours and our Team Members in a socially responsible manner.
“The partnership and alignment of values between Tree Canada and U-Haul Canada are indicators of our commitment to Canadian citizens. An optional donation to Tree Canada at checkout offers our customers an opportunity to offset their self-move carbon footprint. Overwhelmingly, our customers get this and embrace the opportunity to support Tree Canada.”
Tree Canada President Michael Rosen added: “Tree Canada is extremely pleased to be partnering with U-Haul for our Grow Clean Air program. U-Haul has clearly demonstrated its commitment to improving the environment while continuing to provide excellent service to its customers. We look forward to continue working with U-Haul on all their future greening initiatives.”
