The 56th annual observation of Earth Day occurs on April 22 with the theme “Our Power, Our Planet.”
U-Haul proudly celebrates this. But sustainability isn’t a once-a-year talking point for our teams. It’s a business model that predates the modern environmental movement by 25 years.
U-Haul was founded in 1945 during the resource-constrained aftermath of World War II, and the principles of that era — reuse, water conservation, thrift — became foundational to how the Company operates.
More than eight decades later, that same ethos drives some of the most ambitious sustainability programs for the industry leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage.
Recent Recognition
In March 2026, Arizona Forward honored U-Haul with its first-ever Sustainability in Action (Corporate) Award of Distinction, recognizing the company’s leadership among corporations, nonprofits, and government entities across the state.
This latest award follows a 2025 Smart Energy Decisions Circularity Award, which specifically cited U-Haul Company’s positive impact through the adaptive reuse of buildings, Sustainable Modular Storage program, and the Take-a-Box, Leave-a-Box program.
The SMS Program: Sustainability at Scale
At the center of the Company’s circular approach is the Sustainable Modular Storage (SMS) program, a U-Haul-exclusive innovation developed through reverse engineering. The program repurposes van bodies from retired U-Haul trucks — bodies that would otherwise head to scrap — and converts them into storage units.
As of April 2026, U-Haul has converted 19,327 retired truck van bodies into SMS units. The environmental impact is significant:
- More than 63 million pounds of materials — wood and steel — diverted from landfills
- 334,357 cumulative tons of greenhouse gas emissions avoided by eliminating the need to harvest new wood, manufacture new steel, and pour concrete foundations for new storage construction
- 17.3 tons of carbon emissions avoided for every 1,000 square feet of reused storage space
The broader sustainability portfolio extends well beyond SMS. U-Haul operates customer Reuse Centers and an Office Reuse Supply Center; offers biodegradable packing peanuts; runs a custom-designed water-recycling unit at its Tempe (Ariz.) truck-washing facility; and prioritizes local and regional sourcing through its U-Haul Technical Center supply chain.
Year-Round Commitment
Team Member engagement is part of the story too. U-Haul offers free online Sustainability courses for employees and partners with local organizations — including Kitchen on the Street, St. Vincent de Paul, and veterans’ organizations — to connect sustainability with community impact.
As the Company has publicly stated: “We embrace our responsibility to act as a good corporate citizen by continually improving the sustainable performance of our products, services and activities.”
Earth Day is a useful reminder to take care of our planet. At U-Haul, the slogan “every day should be Earth Day” is truly put into practice. It’s built into how the Company has operated for the last 80-plus years … and plans to operate for the next 80-plus years.
