Tips to Make Your Move Eco-Friendly

A move can be fun, scary, challenging, and exciting, usually all at once. You can also have a very negative impact on the environment during the moving process. Although you cannot prevent every process in your move from harming the environment, you can make many of them more sustainable.

The following are some ways to reduce your environmental impact during your moving process.

Downsize Before You Move

Moving is often the opportunity for a fresh start. The temptation to pack everything into boxes and get on the road can be strong. However, downsizing before you move has a lot of benefits. By downsizing, you can make a lighter, more organized load that may be more affordable to move.

As you pare down your things, you can sell, gift, or donate usable items. As for the items only suited for discarding, you can contact a recycling center that can recycle them in an environmentally friendly manner.

Use Reusable Bins and Boxes

Consider investing in reusable packing containers instead of single-use boxes and wrapping paper. Utilizing reusable boxes reduces waste and lowers packing costs. After the move, you can use the bins as storage. On the other hand, you can rent the bins from several different companies if you want to avoid buying them.

If you need to use cardboard boxes, you can borrow them from friends who have moved recently and use them during your move. Alternatively, you can prepare ahead by saving the shipping boxes you receive before your move. You can also get free cardboard boxes from your local grocery store, recycling center, or retail store.

When you're done with your move, you can reuse the strongest cardboard boxes for the next one or give them away to someone else who needs them.

You can also use gym and duffel bags, reusable grocery totes, suitcases, or baskets as alternative moving containers. The more you can fit into your existing containers, the less need for purchased boxes.

Avoid Wasteful Packing Materials

Packing materials such as bubble wrap, paper, and styrofoam peanuts can result in waste. Taking the time to look around your home and innovate will help you keep packing material trash at a minimum. 

You can add extra cushion to fragile items by wrapping them in padding materials such as blankets, towels, bed sheets, and even socks. You can also use newspapers as space fillers, but be careful not to stain delicate surfaces with newspaper ink. 

Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products 

You might want to do a thorough, deep clean before you move if your lease requires it. In some cases, however, you'll only need to remove some cobwebs, wash the windows, and dust the floors. Either way, opt for organic or eco-friendly cleaning materials rather than harsh chemicals.

Consider products that are compliant with the EPA's Safer Choice Standard. All products branded with the EPA's Safer Choice label have undergone rigorous testing to ensure they are non-toxic and safe for the environment. Another option is to use natural products instead of chemical cleaning products.

Make One Trip

When moving, try to make as few trips as possible. Focus on getting all items shipped by your movers on moving day rather than making short trips to and from your new home. Keeping your move to one or two trips will conserve gas and save you time on the road.

If you plan to start some of the moving beforehand, do it in one go rather than in small loads. The fewer trips you can make during your move, the better.

Whether you're looking to move from city to city or state to state, our expert staff can help. For more information about how we can help with your next move, contact us at All America Moving today.