On average, Americans move about 11.4 times in their lifetime. Each move takes energy, time, and lots of materials. In fact, each ton of cardboard material produced takes 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4,000 kilowatts of energy. When you factor in the excess use of plastic (think bubble wrap, plastic containers, etc.), it really adds up. Today, it’s absolutely vital to be aware of our excess waste and profound impact it has on the Earth—and all its inhabitants.
Unfortunately, moving often ends up being a wasteful process. Don’t get us wrong, we totally understand—the easier, the better. However, what if we told you that you could move green? Thankfully, it’s easy to reduce your carbon footprint when moving instead of using harmful materials. Element Moving Company in Dallas, Texas actively encourages green moving, and we’ve broken down these 6 ways to incorporate green moving for your next move (all while saving the planet—and your wallet).
To learn more about green moving, check out our Green Element.
Use Existing Boxes and Crates
Instead of buying brand new plastic and cardboard, use already existing materials. You’d be surprised at how many local grocery stores have piles and piles of gently-used (and in some cases, brand new) cardboard boxes. More often than not, they’re more than happy to let you take some off their hands.
On the other hand, you can be creative with containers you already have laying around the house. These include suitcases, plastic bins, gym bags or duffle bags, or reusable grocery bags to name a few. Basically, any items that can fit other items inside are good to go.
Use Recycled Materials
We understand that sometimes, no amount of existing containers around the house can fit all your stuff. So when you do need to look for additional boxes or bins, go for recycled materials. Element Moving & Storage offers eco-friendly crates for our customers who want to reduce their carbon footprint, and highly suggest you do the same. However, you don’t have to use our eco-friendly crates. Fortunately, there are many green options to choose from when looking for boxes, crates, and bins.
Ditch the Bubblewrap
When you think about it, it’s the little things we do every day that really add up against our environment. When we take steps to adjust them—even slightly—we can make a profound impact. For instance, consider using newspapers or old towels to wrap around your items instead of bubble wrap. If not recycled properly, bubble wrap (polyethylene to be precise), ends up in a landfill, in the ocean, and even our own bodies when we ingest seafood that ate plastic during its life.
Donate What You Don’t Need
When you look at it, moving actually gives you a great opportunity to clear your clutter and get rid of things you don’t need. We at Element Moving & Storage highly suggest you donate unwanted or unused items instead of tossing them out. In fact, let us know ahead of time and we’ll even come pick up the unwanted items to donate ourselves. When it comes to your recycle pile, always make sure to discard and recycle accordingly.
To learn more about how Element gives back, click here.
Keep Some Kitchen Utensils Handy
We understand that the kitchen is one of the hardest rooms to pack—trust us. That’s why we totally get it when folks pack the kitchen first. However, doing so forces you to resort to plasticware since your usual utensils are packed away. Alternatively, keep some kitchen utensils on the side and handy for the duration of the move so you won’t have to end up wasting plastic. Just keep a few forks, spoons, and knives on the side so you can further lessen your carbon footprint on the environment.
Hiring a Dallas Moving Company? Go Green With Element
We believe in doing our part to help make Earth a better place to live. Because of that, Element Moving & Storage actively adjusts our moving operations and packing materials to reduce waste. We’re committed to green moving, and it’s just another reason why we’re the next generation in moving and storage.
With our use of recycled materials and offering eco-friendly crates for our customers, we dramatically decrease our use of harmful materials and waste. To learn more about Green Element, or how our Dallas moving company can help you move, contact us today.
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