Moving isn’t the most environmentally friendly life event. You might feel guilty about the carbon footprint of your move, from the packaging waste to long car and van trips. There are many ways to make your move more environmentally friendly.
You can minimize your environmental impact by planning ahead. We’ll be sharing our top tips for moving house, which can dramatically reduce your carbon footprint.
Get rid of clutter before you move
To make your move more environmentally friendly, remove less stuff. This step won’t work if you have a lot of clutter. Instead of throwing away things, consider if you can sell, donate, or recycle them first. Tossing them should not be on your to-do list. After you’ve decluttered your home, you’ll need fewer moving boxes and may need a smaller van.
Borrow or rent moving boxes
Moving boxes make it easy to plan and organize your move. Your movers will find it easier to move boxes of uniform size. What if you don’t want to feel guilty about buying new boxes? Ask around to find out if there are any available. People are more likely to throw away their reusable boxes once they have settled in after a move. If you offer to take their boxes off their hands, it could be a nice gesture.
You could rent boxes if you don’t know anyone who is willing to give them away. To make moving easier, you can rent large heavy-duty boxes that can be stacked on top and pushed onto trolleys. Once you are done, unpack the boxes and return them. This is a popular choice for office moving.
These items can be used instead of moving boxes
These items can be substituted for moving boxes:
- Briefcases and suitcases
- Backpacks and carryalls
- Bin liners
- Large grocery bags and totes bags
- Vacuum bags
- Baskets and hampers
There are many creative uses for things you already own, so don’t limit yourself to moving boxes made of cardboard.
Packaging can be creative
You don’t have to rely on bubble wrap rolls to protect your valuables. Here are some alternatives.
- To protect your TV, use a blanket or duvet. You should have moving blankets that you can use from your Local mover.
- To protect glasses, mugs, and vases, you can use the mountain of “bags to live” that you have been collecting.
- Protect your dishes and plates by using paper plates to cover them during transit.
- To protect your boxes during transit, use towels.
- To keep your picture frames safe, place them in pillowcases.
Maximize your packing space
You can make the most of any gaps to reduce the number of boxes that you have to buy and move. If you’re packing your kitchen, consider putting small items in large pots or jugs. For moving, you could keep spice jars in a crockpot. Tupperware containers can be used to store cutlery. If possible, make sure you don’t leave any empty space in your packing boxes.
Take a few trips as you can
It is always a debate whether it is better for a mover to use a moving van to transport their belongings or take several trips with a vehicle. We believe it is better for the environment to complete the move in one trip. It’s also less stressful for you. Multiple trips to move house will make it more difficult and take you longer to pack and unpack.
After your move, recycle or reuse the boxes
After you have moved into your new home, you should unpack all the boxes. Don’t throw them away. You can either pack your moving boxes flat and store them or pass them on to another mover.
If the boxes are properly constructed and sealed with good quality tape, they can be reused many times over. You might have a place for plastic boxes and crates if you move with them.
Get in touch today to receive a cross-country movers quote for your eco-friendly move today!
Texas Movers Group provides long-distance and local moving services in Dallas, Frisco, Plano, Allen, Carrollton, Richardson, Katy, Celina, Montgomery, Texas.
