Moving house used to be extremely wasteful; just think of all of the packing materials, boxes and old and polluting removal trucks required to move your items from door to door. Today, however, more and more people are making the conscious effort to make their house move as eco-friendly as possible. Whether it’s recycling old possessions or simply packing up your items more smartly, there are many things that you can do to reduce your carbon footprint and look after the planet while going through the significant life event of moving house. Read on to find out more.
Pack your belongings smartly
While it is inevitable that your house move will require a cardboard box and some bubble wrap for certain items, it is relatively easy to cut down on the amount of excess packing materials you need. The way to do this is simply to utilise what storage containers you already have – you may not even realise you have them! Fill up chests of drawers, suitcases, bins, reusable supermarket bags and anything else suitable with lightweight items, such as clothes. Efficiently pack small kitchen items and spices into pots and pans. Should you require any extra cardboard boxes, source them from a company that offer recycled boxes and be sure to recycle them yourself once you have used them.
Recycle and donate old items
Before you make the big move, you should sort through your home to separate any items that you will not need in your new home. Moving fewer things into your home means less packing materials, a smaller van, reduced moving costs and less trips, lowering the amount of fuel used. Plenty of charities will be happy to take large pieces of furniture off you, such as tables, beds and sofas as well as smaller items too. Remember, something that you no longer want, another person could love! You can hold a jumble sale to raise some extra cash for your move, or invite friends and family over to have a look through your unwanted goods to see if they can make use of them.
Use eco-friendly packaging
There are a few simple things you can do to ensure that your packaging is as environmentally friendly as possible. Swap plastic bubble wrap for newspaper; when packed correctly, it can protect plates and glasses just as effectively. You can also use towels, egg cartons and clothes to wrap fragile items for extra padding and protection. If you really do need to use bubble wrap for something, be sure to purchase the biodegradable version. In addition to this, using environmentally-friendly cleaning products when cleaning your house before you move out will cause less damage to the environment. Baking soda can be used to remove odours from carpets, while vinegar mixed with water will leave tiles and windows sparkling.
Essex Removal Service & Co is an international removals company based in Essex, specialising in domestic, commercial and overseas removals. Our team of highly experienced house movers will ensure that everything goes smoothly, from start to finish. We understand that moving house is a huge task, which is why we are committed to making your big move as easy as possible. For more information about us, visit our website.
