Eco-Friendly Ways to Move Home

Moving home is wasteful. There is no denying that. Or at least it used to be.

Packing materials that would end up in the bin, cardboard boxes were your only packing option, old and polluting removal trucks, and not a video survey or moving app in sight.

But things are changing, now as a consumer can you make green choices when moving home, which is ensuring the removal companies offer the green alternatives customers are now asking for.

With about 34 towns and cities now planning on Clean Air Zones, including Derby, Nottingham, Leeds, Birmingham, and Southampton, the less eco-friendly removal firms may have to increase their prices to take into account these extra costs.

Aside from the International Removal Companies, it has always been the case that removal companies do less mileage than most haulage companies so they did not need to invest in the most fuel-efficient or green vehicles on the market.

So looking for an established eco-friendly removal firm could make economic sense for you, as they will not be needing to invest in new equipment, nor paying heavy fines for polluting trucks.

Here we look at what changes you can make to your home move to help do your bit for the planet, and also what the removal industry has done, and continues to do, to find innovative ways to help you make green choices when moving home.

You may also like to read: Choosing Where to Live in the UK to Avoid Climate Change. Every year we see more and more extreme weather which damages more and more homes, even making some areas uninhabitable such as where cliffs are being eroded. In this guide, we look at the best places to move to to avoid climate change.

Eco-Friendly Moving Tips and Ideas

#1 Move Fewer Things for a Green Home Move

This is a great place to start. Not only will you help save the planet, but reduce your moving costs too.

It is simple really. The more stuff you move, the more packing materials you will need, the more expensive your moving costs will be, and the more fuel your removal truck will use.

So keep, pack, and move fewer things.

The most eco-friendly way of clearing out your clutter is by donating all your surplus things to a worthy cause, as often they will collect your items for free.

Usually, one van, one trip, and all your unwanted items will go to those who will make good use of them.

You may also like to read: The Ultimate Guide of Where to Donate Things When Moving Home. In this guide, we list the most common items that people declutter and where you can donate those items.

Freecycle and Preloved are great websites to give away your surplus stuff for free (and to furnish your new place for free too).

Make use of social media sites to list stuff you no longer need or to find things that you need for your new home.

You may also like to read: The Epic Guide to Decluttering for a Home Move. In this guide, we look at the best ways to declutter your home room by room. We also look at how to detach yourself emotionally from your possessions, often one of the most difficult aspects of decluttering.

#2 How to Choose an Eco-Friendly Removal Company

The moving industry is steeped in tradition, but the old ways of doing things are changing, and those companies that are at the forefront of greener home moves will not hide the fact from their customers.

So a quick scan of the removal company’s website will soon show you their green credentials.

Ideally, you are looking for ISO 14000 certification which is an indication of the steps taken by the company to be as eco-friendly as possible.

The most eco-friendly removal companies may have electric vehicles, use bio-diesel in their trucks, or use recycled packaging.

But you can ask even more questions, just to see how green they really are:

• Do they encourage car share or cycle-to-work schemes?
• Are the company uniforms made from organic materials?
• Do they recycle widely at their depot?
• Is the company carbon neutral?
• Do they use bio-degradable bubble wrap?
• Do they use plastic tote bins instead of cardboard boxes?
• Do they use eco-friendly packing supplies?
• Ask them what else they do to help the planet.

More and more removal companies are also using technology to make your home move greener.

Historically a surveyor would come to your home to view all the items you wish to move, assess your packing requirements, and make a plan for moving day, taking into account issues such as access, and parking for the removal lorry.

Many now use video apps to complete their in-home moving survey.

Not only is this more convenient for you as you can do the survey when it suits you, but you have a record of exactly what was specified, and by whom.

Additionally, it is so much more planet-friendly as the surveyor is not covering hundreds of miles a day in a car.

By the way, it is essential that an in-home survey is carried out so that you get an accurate price for your home move, and there are no nasty surprises with add-on costs on moving day.

GPS is now used to plan the most direct and fuel-efficient route to your new home.

If you only have a small number of items to move, ask the removal company about consolidating your stuff with another home move. Not only will this be better for the environment but you may get a better deal too.

You may also like to read: What to Know When Hiring a Removal Company for the First Time. In this guide, we explain exactly what removal companies do and do not do, what to expect when the home moving survey is carried out, and useful tips about choosing a good removal firm.

And using a professional packing service will help too, they know the most efficient way to pack things to save on boxes and packing materials.

Not only that, but they could turn two trips to your new home into one, they know all the tricks to fill every little space in the removal van.

Finally, be sure to ask for proof that they do what they say in terms of being eco-friendly. You can learn more about ISO certification at www.iso.org

You may also like to read: Are Packing Services Worth the Money? In this guide, we examine whether hiring professional packers for a home move is a good idea, how much on average they cost, and whether they will make your home move far easier or not.

#3 Eco-Friendly Packing Ideas

Hiring plastic tote boxes is a great new service that is available nationwide from a number of companies.

Crate Hire UK and PlusCrates are two such companies that offer a nationwide service.

You hire a set of boxes for a set period of time, which are delivered to your front door, then return them when you have finished.

No packing tape is required, nor do you have the inconvenience of having to get rid of the cardboard boxes that you have unpacked. It is also a lot faster to pack and unpack them too.

The boxes can be used again and again thereby saving recycling and landfill.

Of course, you can also use a variety of things found around your home to pack things into, such as:

• Suitcases – small ones for heavy items and large ones for lighter items
• Bags
• Bins
• Buckets
• The drum of washing machines (for linens or light clothing)
• Pots and Pans – Pack spices or small kitchen items inside them
• Bin liners which can then be reused for their original purpose
• Think Russian dolls – if it has an empty internal space use it.

Use clothing, blankets, towels, and linen as padding to protect your fragile items when packing them.

Wine glasses can be put inside a couple of pairs of socks for protection before packing.

Keep things in drawers, just cling film wrap them, or wrap them tightly in an old carrier bag, to save on boxes and space in the removal van.

Seek out other home movers on social networks or free ad websites who may have packing materials they want to get rid of.

Local businesses may be able to help too. Look for companies who trade in electronics as they usually have lots of bubble wrap and strong boxes to dispose of.

If your local cycle store has a spare bike box, they are perfect for packing larger sizes of flat-screen TV sets.

Buy quality packing tape if you are reusing cardboard boxes, you will use half the amount of cheap tape, and it will be stronger too.

And if you are using a professional packing service be sure to ask whether the materials they use are recycled or biodegradable.

You may like to read: Alternative Packing Materials For Moving Home. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of using plastic crates for packing as well as all the things around your home that you can use to save on packing materials.

#4 Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips

No doubt you will want to spring clean your new home so here are a few alternatives to shop-bought, environment-damaging, products to put a sparkle in your new place.

• Baking Soda – Your new best friend. Cheap and effective, sprinkle it on carpets before vacuuming to get rid of any nasty odours. Great for clearing blocked drains, as well as a cleaning agent for just about everything from kitchen worktops to ovens.
• Vinegar – A 50-50 solution of vinegar and water will leave your tiles and windows sparkling. Can also be used as a preventative to stop mold and mildew on tiles and shower curtains.
• Lemon Juice – Add 50-50 to olive oil and clean your wooden furniture.
• Add a few houseplants to your home, not only will they make it more homely but will help purify the air in your new home.
• And don’t forget that you can save a few old T-shirts you found when decluttering and cut them into cleaning cloths which can be used time and again.

You may also like to read: How to Deep Clean When Moving Home. In this guide, we look at not only efficient methods for cleaning but also include a number of eco-friendly recipes for cleaning products.

# 5 Ways to Go Green at Home

Going green in your new home too? Here are some things to consider to help the environment.

• Don’t use a tumble dryer, hang your clothes out to dry. It will save you money, is better for the planet, better for your clothes, and leaves them smelling fresher too.
• Replace all the bulbs in your home with LED alternatives.
• When redecorating your new home look for low or non-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints which are bad for the environment and your health.
• Cook fresh food, not pre-packaged meals. It is cheaper and better for you too.
• Turn off the heat when cooking at least 5 minutes earlier than the recipe says. This will use the residual heat in the pan or oven and save you a small fortune in energy.
• Eat less meat. It will help the planet and is better for your body.
• Try growing some of your own produce, even a balcony will allow you to grow a surprising amount of fruit and vegetables.
• Use the lowest setting on your shower head. It will save water and money.
• Unplug appliances when they are not in use. Many appliances still consume power even when not being used.

You may also like to read: Where to Get Free Stuff When You Move Home. Setting up a home is expensive and many people choose to upcycle furniture and source household goods that have been pre-owned. In this guide, we look at what you can get for free and from where, an invaluable guide if you are setting up a home on a budget, and it is better for the planet too!

None of us will save the planet on our own, but we can all do our part. Thankfully some removal firms are also doing their bit too.

There are many removal firms to choose from, but choosing an eco-friendly company can only be a good thing.