Approximately 100 Extra Space Storage employees volunteered to plant 25 trees at Constitution Park near Utah State Fair Park in Salt Lake City this week. The effort was part of a $25,000 donation by Extra Space Storage to the Arbor Day Foundation.

At Extra Space Storage, we strive to provide our employees with an inspiring culture and enriching experiences. Finding and supporting causes our employees are passionate about is part of our mission.

Through this volunteer urban planting project, Extra Space Storage utilized the expertise of local specialists at Tree Utah to bring in trees best suitable for the climate and plant them in an area of need to enhance community health and beauty. Supporting this initiative is an extension of Extra Space Storage’s existing sustainability efforts, which include solar installations, recycling initiatives, and retrofitting self storage facility lighting to be greener.

“We work to improve Utah’s quality of life for present and future generations by enhancing the environment through tree planting initiatives such as these,” said Amy May, Executive Director at Tree Utah. “Working with organizations like Extra Space Storage allows us to make a significant impact in preserving and caring for our beautiful state.”

“This volunteer effort is an important step in protecting the environment, which our foundation can’t do alone. We’re thrilled that partners like Extra Space Storage are committed to coming together to drive change,” said Dan Lambe, President of the Arbor Day Foundation. “With our network and ability to plant trees on public and private lands, the Arbor Day Foundation is uniquely positioned to organize these types of movements by rallying organizations and leaders around the world to join us.”

Arbor Day Foundation and Tree Utah express their gratitude to Extra Space Storage volunteers for supporting their unified mission to leverage trees to deliver countless benefits to the environment, economy, and the local community, including:

• Environment: 100 million trees remove 578,000 tons of chemical pollution from the air. Forests also provide 75% of the world’s accessible fresh water by removing impurities and preventing erosion, and a single tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide annually to help regulate climate.
• Economy: Trees are a major pillar of the global economy. The timber sector generates $600 billion annually and 54.2 million jobs, and forests also contribute to the recreation and tourism industries.
• Society: Spending time in green spaces is proven to improve health—reducing stress levels, blood pressure, and rates of cardiovascular disease. Forests also help advance medical breakthroughs. More than a quarter of modern medicine is derived from tropical forest plants.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the impact of Extra Space Storage’s tree planting event will help capture 548,874 gallons of stormwater runoff, sequester 55.78 metric tons of net carbon dioxide, and produce $1,243 in air quality savings.

Thank you to both the Arbor Day Foundation and Tree Utah for giving us the opportunity to support the environment and make an impact in our local community!