Moving home can be a stressful process, so much so that you probably don’t even think about the impact it has on the environment. However, accumulating waste, repeated journeys, and buying extra supplies can certainly contribute to your carbon footprint. If you want to make your lifestyle more sustainable, take a look at these top tips for moving home the planet-friendly way:
- Start Collecting Boxes Now
If you know you’re going to moving in the next few weeks or months, start collecting boxes now. You’ll need numerous boxes or containers in order to transport your items, but you don’t have to buy them. Most shops will happily give you the boxes they no longer need, so start collecting them now to ensure you’ll have the supply you need. Just remember to recycle them when you’re settled in your new home and you’re already making your move much more eco-friendly.
- Use a Removal Firm
Some people assume that using a removal firm leads to excess waste but, in actual fact, the opposite can be true. When you compare quotes to move make sure that a removal company will be able to transport everything you need to move in just one or two vehicles. This means you can avoid making repeated journeys in your car or a hired van, which dramatically reduces pollution and minimizes the impact on the environment.
- Use Towels to Protect Breakable Items
When you’re moving into a new home, there might be a number of fragile or breakable items that you need to transport. People often use bubble wrap or plastic to protect them, but these can be difficult, or impossible, to recycle afterwards which is not exactly eco-friendly. Before you resort to using plastic, try using towels, clothes, linens, cushions, and pillows to pack fragile items securely. This will negate the need for plastic packing materials, and it means you’ll have fewer boxes to move in total.
- Declutter First
If you can’t wait to get settled into your new home, you might be eager to pack everything up and get moving right away. However, the moving process gives you a great opportunity to declutter, move your items into a storage unit and streamline your possessions. Items you no longer need or want can be donating or recycled, which is another way to ensure your house move benefits the environment and your local community.
- Use What You Have
Before you consider buying any new packing supplies, take a look at what you already have at home. Suitcases, storage trunks, drawers, rucksacks, and even reusable shopping bags can all be used to transport items to your new home. If you run out of suitable containers, your friends and family are sure to have many cases and bags you can borrow too.
Planning a Stress-Free Move
As you can see, an eco-friendly house move can actually make the process easier and minimize the amount of stress involved. By planning ahead, eschewing unnecessary packing supplies, and accessing help from professional movers, you can enjoy a hassle-free move and look forward to settling into your new home.
