Make your move be more environmentally friendly

Between the cardboard, bubble wrap and fuel, moving all of your possessions to a new home can definitely increase your carbon footprint. If you have made the decision to make your life more ecologically friendly, you can take some steps to make sure that you can make your move environmentally responsible as well.

Find a green mover

If you plan to use a professional mover, do some research and find one that provides rentable crates for packing your belongings. Some will even use trucks that use bio-fuel. Ask the company what steps they take to be more eco-friendly. Don’t be afraid to ask questions before you hire them.

Packing material

A lot of the material used in packing for a move isn’t good for the environment, including bubble wrap and packing peanuts. Finding alternatives is fairly easy, and can cut down on the overall cost of your move.

• Use green packing peanuts made from bioplastics, a form of plastic derived from renewable sources such as vegetable oils or corn starch.


• Wrap your breakables in clothing, towels, sheets and blankets to save on bubble wrap.


• Use newspaper as a buffering material in your boxes to prevent items jostling together and breaking, but don't wrap things like fine china in newsprint, as the ink can come off.


• For extra padding, pack your glasses and stemware in clean socks.

Eliminating cardboard boxes

Practically everything you own will be put into boxes that will then be thrown away or recycled. Take these steps to eliminate the number of cardboard boxes you’ll require to complete your move.

• Save and use original boxes for fragile electronics such as TVs and computers.


• Make use of all of your baskets, laundry bins, hampers, and suitcases.


• Reusable plastic boxes can be found at some home improvement and hardware stores. Do a search to see if anyone rents plastic moving bins; they can be cheaper than cardboard and much better for the environment.

Cutting down on fuel usage

Even if you’re only moving across town, you can cut back on the amount of fuel you’ll need. If you’re moving across the country, the steps you take can make an even bigger difference.

• Declutter and donate to lighten the load. The less you have to move, the smaller the truck that you'll need and the less fuel you'll use.


• If you’re moving cross-country, consider shipping those things you won’t need immediately via Greyhound. It’s an inexpensive shipping option for large items.