Expert advice from a moving company: How to move sustainably.

Moving home is a very stressful time for most people, but it’s also stressful for the environment. There are certain ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint when you move, plus it’s a great way to start a greener, clutter free life in your new home.

Here are some tips on how to make sure your move is as green as possible:

Declutter, recycle, move less

Use this as an opportunity to get rid of all the junk in your home. Many a moving company is often shocked at the amount of people who move things who put their belongings directly under the stairs on in the attic. If you don’t think you’re going to ever use it again, donate it or recycle it.

Think, if you’re never going to read that book again orwatch that film, it could have a better home in a charity shop where the charity and the buyer could benefit from your donation.

Recycling will not only reduce the amount of materials we use, but it also means that less space will be taken up in landfill and the items will be put to good use. Recycling your goods means that they can be turned into something more useful – or just reused, meaning that a whole lot of energy isn’t used in creating the item from scratch therefore reducing your carbon footprint.

Decluttering will also save you money – if you’re moving less, you will have to pay less. It will also require less fuel to transport the goods to your new home.

Don’t buy boxes to move with.

You can always get hold of cardboard boxes from supermarkets or ask family and friends to see if they have any spare. It’s cheaper to reuse cardboard boxes than buy new ones, plus better for the environment!

There are some services that offer plastic boxes/packing crates to rent and use. These are great because they’re uniform, stackable, reusable, sturdy and often don’t require any tape or fastenings. So, if you don’t want the hassle of locating a load of cardboard boxes, it’s well worth considering these.

You don’t need bubble wrap!

When you can, avoid using this, it’s difficult to reuse and is bad for the environment. Instead, use old newspapers or sheets and towels as packing material. You’ll be moving them anyway so may as well put them to use.

Look for an eco-friendly moving company.

Many moving companies nowadays now boast of eco-friendly vehicles and green moving methods. If you want an earth-friendly move consider a green company. If you’re moving overseas, ship your goods via boat rather than air – avoiding flying is a great way to significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

Continue being green.

New home, new start! Start practicing new, greener habits. Set up recycling bins next to your trash to make recycling easier and encourage family members.

Remember to turn off electricity when you’re not using it and install energy efficient light bulbs to reduce consumption.

Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers and only wash clothes with a full load to save on your water bill.