Earth Day is a moment to reflect. But for JK Moving Services, the commitment to environmental stewardship isn’t something that gets dusted off once a year, it’s woven into the way we operate every single day.
This year, JK is marking Earth Day by sharing meaningful progress: a formalized carbon accounting program, growing recognition from global environmental disclosure platforms, and a suite of initiatives that divert millions of pounds of waste from landfills, reduce emissions, and protect critical landscapes for future generations.
Measuring what matters
You can’t improve what you don’t measure, and JK has taken that principle seriously. Working with Planet Mark, a dedicated carbon accounting partner, JK’s Sustainability Task Force has established an enterprise-wide baseline for greenhouse gas emissions. That data is now informing strategic decisions across the company’s operations.
“Earth Day is once a year, but our commitment to being great stewards for the environment is core to our culture of care and respect,” said Chuck Kuhn, CEO of JK Moving Services. “By measuring and codifying our commitment, we are able to focus our efforts on even more productive ways to shrink our carbon footprint.”
That commitment is being recognized externally as well. JK earned an SME-B rating from CDP (an independent nonprofit that operates the world’s leading environmental disclosure platform) for the second consecutive year. JK’s first-ever CDP Climate Change disclosure in 2024 marked a pivotal milestone in our environmental transparency, and this year, JK is building on that foundation with another submission as part of the ongoing effort to transparently track and reduce our environmental impact.
Zero waste, real results
One of the most tangible markers of JK’s environmental progress is our Zero Waste program, which diverts more than 4.5 million pounds of materials from landfills every year. These efforts are grounded in circular economic principles and touch every operational area.
At the heart of it is BoxlessMove®, JK’s proprietary system that eliminates the need for cardboard boxes entirely. We also recycle paper, cardboard, and wood through compactors and augers, and maximize resource efficiency by using recycled moving blankets, reused vehicle parts, and retreaded tires. Motion-sensor lighting and using reclaimed oil to heat our maintenance facility round out a program that treats waste reduction as a daily discipline rather than an annual initiative.
Cleaner miles on the road
As an EPA SmartWay Partner since 2008, JK has a long track record of working to reduce the environmental footprint of its fleet, one of the most significant sources of emissions for any moving company. Current initiatives include advanced route optimization to cut empty miles, ongoing driver training for fuel-efficient behavior, and the gradual replacement of older vehicles with lower-emission models.
JK is also investing in the future of clean transportation. The company has ordered Tesla Semi trucks, which offer a 500-mile range and superior energy efficiency, and is adding APU generator units to new tractor-trailers to reduce fuel consumption and extend engine life.
Supporting client sustainability goals
For corporate clients managing employee relocations, JK’s family of companies offers a direct way to offset the environmental impact of every move. CapRelo, part of the JK Moving family, partners with ecolegIT (a platform purpose-built for reducing the environmental footprint of the mobility industry) to calculate, audit, and offset emissions linked to client relocations in real time. All offsets fund sustainable forestry projects, and clients receive carbon offset credits issued in their names, providing full transparency and assurance throughout their sustainability journey.
Conservation beyond the move
JK’s environmental commitment extends well beyond our operations. Sister firm JK Land Holdings (JKLH) invests strategically in land conservation, redirecting acquisition proceeds into permanent conservation easements that protect critical landscapes, ecosystems, cultural sites, and biodiversity. For every acre of land developed commercially, JKLH sets aside approximately 44 acres for conservation – a ratio that speaks for itself.
That commitment to the land also gave rise to the JK Community Farm, a nonprofit, chemical-free farm that donates 100% of its yield to alleviating hunger in the local community.
The bigger picture
Sustainability in the moving industry isn’t simple. It requires investment, intention, and the discipline to measure progress honestly rather than just talk about it. JK Moving Services is doing all three. And the results are starting to show.
This Earth Day, we’re proud of the ground we’ve covered. And we’re committed to going further.