What to Expect From an Eco-Friendly Moving Company

‘Going green’ is a phrase that casts a shadow over everything we do nowadays. This extends to what you can expect from an eco-friendly moving company.

How do you know your moving company is committing to best practices concerning the environment? Do they use recyclable materials or reduce their carbon emissions? One by one, you can find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of questions on display. After all: just because a business says they’re green doesn’t mean they are.

What should you expect from an eco-friendly moving company and how do you vet them properly? We’re going to explore this topic more below and equip you with the knowledge needed to choose the right business.

But first, check out these helpful articles.

• Best Interstate Movers – The moving industry is full of shady players. With so much at stake, it’s worth hiring a top-rated long-distance mover with verified customer reviews.
• How much will your move cost? – Our moving cost calculator is a great resource. Just enter your move dates, origin and destination cities, and the estimated size of your move, and the magic algorithms will do the rest.
• Consider moving containers – It’s simple. You load and unload, they drive, and you save big bucks. These are the best moving container companies.

How Can You Tell a Moving Company is Green?

Sifting through the greenwashing avalanche of modern marketing is a tall ordeal. Simply taking a moving business at face value is not enough to determine if they’re eco-friendly.

Your first order of business is to take a look at a moving company’s website and sift around for important information concerning their services. Instead of gravitating to catchphrases like “We’re eco-friendly!” or “We care about the environment.”, look instead to their moving process.

You should find details such as:

• Commitment to recycling materials such as paper, glass, or plastic (bonus points if they cite a valid recycling facility)
• Providing moving supplies
• Using reusable bins
• Using alternate fuel sources
• Providing access to donation facilities

We’ll expand on a few of these points below so you can pick a truly sustainable moving business.

Will They Provide Moving Supplies?

Moving is an expensive and time-consuming process. You can make things cheaper – and greener – by reusing moving supplies.

Your moving company should have steady access to common moving supplies that can be reused. They can also provide you with simple, cheap supplies to save you as much cash as possible.

Keep an eye out for common moving supplies such as:

• Blankets (for padding)
• Newspaper (for padding)
• Tape
• Markers
• Dolly

Don’t wait until the last second to start budgeting your next move. Calculating your moving costs early will save you a lot of time down the road.

Will They Provide Reusable Boxes?

Reusable boxes are a fantastic way to save money and reduce strain on local recycling facilities. While these boxes are often made out of plastic, they sometimes come in wooden form.

Cardboard boxes are already recyclable, so consider using them for items such as:

• Books
• Clothes
• Dishware and silverware
• Toiletries
• Art supplies

Due to their sturdiness, reusable boxes are better suited for larger or heavier items such as:

• Exercise equipment (disassembled)
• Pet supplies (such as a cat tower)
• Office supplies

What Kind of Truck Do They Use?

Transportation is one of the worst drains on the environment, especially for moving companies. The whole point of the business is to help you get from point A to point B.

Trucks, freight carriers, and vans are notoriously damaging to the environment due to releasing carbon emissions. Statista revealed that medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks emitted a collective 444 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2019 alone. While you can’t be expected to save the world all on your own, every little bit in the opposite direction counts.

Research your moving company to see if they use more energy-efficient methods of transportation. This can look like this:

Biodiesel Fuel

Biodiesel fuel is a much safer method of burning fuel. This is thanks to its more natural origin (it’s similar to vegetable and animal fats), resulting in fewer toxins emitted.

Battery-Powered Lifts

Many moving companies rely on lifts to transport heavy equipment. Battery-powered lifts are charged with electricity, which immediately causes less strain on the environment compared to their gas-powered counterparts.

What are Green Storage Options?

Sometimes you don’t have the time or energy to move all your belongings to your new home upon arrival. Finding a decent storage option is imperative to a successful – and green – move.

Storage may seem an innocuous entry in eco-friendly discussions, but you’d be amazed by how damaging they can be to the environment. Many storage units use air-conditioning systems to regulate temperature, which is one of today’s most severe contributors to climate change. This is due to the fact air conditioning systems still tend to rely on fossil fuels to operate.

Climate Controlled Storage Units

Find storage units that don’t rely on air conditioning to operate. Consider shipping container units, which are made predominantly out of recyclable stainless steel and are designed to maintain the temperature no matter the season.

Natural Lighting Options

A storage unit without good lighting may sound like a pain. Natural lighting can look like built-in windows and putting the storage unit somewhere it can receive the natural light of the sun.

There are several reliable interstate movers who provide various storage options as part of your moving package. Some even offer a free month or month and a half.

What Else Can I Do to Reduce My Carbon Footprint?

There are several things you can do to make your move as eco-friendly as possible. We’re not just talking about throwing away paper straws: it’s all about being conscientious about your environment.

Sell or Donate Unwanted Items

Pay it forward by selling or donating items you don’t need anymore. Selling unwanted items will put extra cash in your pocket for the move. Donating gently used items will give someone out there a great purchase at a low cost.

Win-win!

Use Various Items in the House to Pack Your Things

Don’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel when moving to a new place. You likely already have several items in your house or apartment for packing.

Got a cluster of plastic bags? Use them to pack your paper towels, make-up kits, and art supplies. Have a few spare cardboard boxes? You’ve got a head-start on packing up your clothes and books.

Use the Appropriate Moving Option

Not all moving options are right for you.

One mover might have few belongings, thus making them well-suited to using a freight carrier. Another mover might have a large house and several kids, making a full-service moving package more suited.

Being keen on your move’s unique details will keep you from spending unnecessarily. Do you have little furniture and few belongings? Consider renting a small truck to transport your items. You can also use an eco-friendly moving container to ship your belongings to your new home.

Conclusion

Learning what to expect from an eco-friendly moving company means becoming familiar with the world around you. The environment protects us, so it’s our duty to look after it.

Eco-friendly moving companies should have several reliable green processes in place. This can look like using trucks with biodiesel fuel or battery-powered lifts. You should also see if they provide recyclable or reusable moving supplies such as wooden boxes and newspaper padding.

You can also seek out green storage options, such as climate-controlled shipping container units or storage with natural lighting. One way or another, you have options for reducing your carbon footprint and leaving a positive impact.