Moving home is no easy task, and the process of packing up all your belongings and transporting them safely can leave you surrounded with plastic bags, bubble wrap and polystyrene packing chips. These packing materials are not good for the environment, but there are alternatives that can make your move more environmentally-friendly. Here are a few eco-friendly packing tips for your next home move.
Use What You Already Have
There's no rule that says you have to use purpose-made packing materials to protect your valuables. You can minimise waste by using items you already have in your home, as you'll have to take those items with you anyway. Wrap crockery in blankets, use cushions to line boxes containing glasses or cups, pack books in suitcases and move clothes in laundry baskets or keep them in your drawers and simply move the drawers as they are.
Choose Recycled Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes are a good packing option as they are biodegradable, but you can make them even more eco-friendly by choosing boxes made with recycled cardboard. Once you've used your boxes, you can break them down and add them to your compost bin. You can also recycle them, and they will once again be made into cardboard products or paper bags and packaging.
Rent Reusable Boxes
Some moving companies rent out plastic boxes, which can be a good option if you don't want to deal with building and then flattening cardboard boxes and disposing of them. The reusable boxes are easy to clean and can be stacked and clipped together to keep your belongings secure when you move. Once you've unpacked, the boxes will be taken away by a removalist company.
Use Starch-Based Packing Foam Or Wood Wool
Conventional packing chips or peanuts are made with polystyrene, which is laden with chemicals and can't be recycled. You can keep fragile items safe and ditch the polystyrene chips or plastic bubble wrap by using starch-based packing foam. This product looks identical to the polystyrene chips, but it's a vegetable-based product that is biodegradable and compostable. Alternatively you can use wood wool, which is made of finely shredded timber. It's lightweight and biodegradable, and it acts as an effective padding material.
These are just a few ways you can make your move more eco-friendly. Your removal company can also give you advice about how to pack and organise your belongings efficiently in order to reduce the size of removal van required or minimise the number of trips required to transport your belongings to your new home.
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