4 min read
With all the bubble wrap, plastic, and petrol it’s understandable that moving home can have a significant impact on the environment. Here we look at different ways you can make your move eco-friendly to help reduce your carbon footprint on moving day.
)
Moving to a new home is extremely exciting, however research has shown a home move can generate 17kgs of CO2. With mindfulness and planning there are plenty of ways you can make your move eco-friendly.
So, if you’re looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact, then look no further – find our top eco-friendly moving tips below!
Relocating to a new home often comes with significant environmental effects. By understanding these impacts we're able to make more sustainable choices.
The main reasons a home move can cause an impact on the environment are:
Packing materials, such as cardboard boxes and plastic wraps, often end up in landfills. While they're essential for protecting your belongings, their disposal can create substantial waste.
Transportation of your belongings, whether moving cross-country or just across town, involves burning fossil fuels. This contributes to carbon emissions that affect air quality and climate change.
The entire process—from packing to cleaning—demands resources. Excessive water usage during cleaning or the energy spent on running moving trucks and other equipment can put a strain on the environment.
Moving often leads to decluttering, which can result in the disposal of furniture, appliances, and personal goods. If not recycled or donated, these items increase landfill volume.
When you move it’s natural you’ll want to get rid of your old items that won’t have a place in your new home. Going through all your things, will help you to declutter and separate out all the items you don’t want to take with you. By getting rid of things before you move, you will have fewer items to take with you. This means you will need fewer boxes and less petrol to transport your belongings.
When it comes to finding a new home for your unwanted items, try and be as environmentally responsible as possible, so items don’t go into landfill unnecessarily. There are plenty of ways of doing this.
First, if the item is good enough to sell, you can use sites such as Gumtree, Vinted or Facebook Marketplace to sell your items, or even go to a car boot sale. Not only will your item go to a good home, but you’ll also make a bit of extra cash.
Next, if you have items which still usable but not worth selling yourself, you can take them to a charity shop, or use sites like Freecycle. Finally, sort through your remaining bits and separate out anything that can be recycled, such as electronics, glass, paper and plastic. This might seem like a lot of effort, however anything you can do to help reduce the waste going into landfills will help in a big way.
There are a few services you may use when moving house, such as a removals, conveyancing, or storage services, each of which can have an environmental impact on your move. Choosing a company who is eco-friendly and has eco-friendly policies will help reduce the environmental impact on your move.
For example, online conveyancing companies have a reduced carbon footprint as they’re able to significantly reduce the amount of paper used during the conveyancing process, removal companies may offer hybrid vans and storage units may use renewable energy to help power their building.
At My Home Move Conveyancing, not only are we 100% online, we’re also committed to further reducing the environmental impact of a home move and for every customer who accepts a conveyancing quote on our website, we will donate to Ecologi's UK Climate and Nature fund, at no extra cost to them. By instructing with My Home Move Conveyancing you will be contributing to UK reforestation and rewilding programs, helping to absorb CO2 emissions while promoting biodiversity and environmental recovery.
Additionally, we partner with companies who are as equally eco-conscious as us. The conveyancing firms that we work with all have online journeys, and our removals partner, AnyVan, has an eco-mission to be the UK’s most sustainable delivery and removals company and are the only carbon-neutral removals and delivery company in the UK, saving 8,520 tonnes of carbon annually!
When it comes to packing and packaging there are things you can do to create an eco-friendlier move. Instead of buying cardboard boxes, you could try and reuse any that you can find. Ask your friends or family if they have any left over from a previous move, ask around at local stores and supermarkets for any spare boxes, or keep the boxes from any deliveries you get in the lead up to your move. You could also use alternatives to cardboard boxes where possible, using suitcases, plastic boxes, or bins. If you do use cardboard boxes, you should avoid throwing them away afterwards, use sites such as Freecycle or Facebook Marketplace to help the next person with their move.
For packaging, although bubble wrap helps to keep breakables very secure, it’s most likely going to end up in a landfill after a move, and therefore look for alternatives you can use. Consider using items you already own to protect fragile items, such as towels, newspapers, and clothing.
If you do use cardboard boxes then consider using eco-friendly packing tape. Switching to eco-friendly tape comes with a range of advantages that extend beyond simple box-securing capabilities. Here's why you should consider making the change:
Biodegradability
Unlike traditional packing tape, eco-friendly versions decompose naturally and more quickly when discarded. This decreases plastic pollution and ensures that less waste ends up in landfills, promoting a more sustainable waste management system.
Recyclability
Eco-friendly tapes integrate seamlessly into the recycling process. This compatibility means less contamination in recycling streams, enhancing overall recycling efficiency.
Strong and Reliable
Don't be fooled by their eco credentials; these tapes offer durability and strength comparable to traditional options. They're designed to securely hold your packages without compromising on performance.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Many eco-friendly tapes are produced with lower carbon emissions, from raw material sourcing to manufacturing. Choosing them reflects a commitment to reducing your personal or business carbon footprint.
Although there might not be much you can do to reduce the air pollution created from moving home, a well-packed moving truck can reduce the number of trips required on moving day and in the lead up to your move will help.
Whether that’s moving your belongs from your old home to your new home, taking unwanted items to the tip, or shopping to get supplies.
There’s often a lot of cleaning involved in the moving process, whether that’s your old home, your new home, or both. Using eco-friendly, natural and non-toxic cleaning products are much safer for the environment, people and pets. These sustainable cleaning products are free of harmful chemicals, making them a safer choice for both your family and the planet.
There are so many ideas and videos online now, that it can actually be quite fun to find the latest hack that actually works. White vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and lemons are usually the dream team when it comes to cleaning. You can combine them to create a multi-purpose cleaner or use combinations for a deeper clean. Adding a little bit of bicarbonate of soda to a wet sponge is such a simple and environmentally friendly way to clean surfaces and dirty walls, adding it to a lemon really helps makes glass sparkle and combining it with white vinegar can help unclog drains and deep clean white goods.
By choosing eco-friendly products, you not only contribute to a healthier home environment but also play a part in protecting our planet for future generations. This small change can lead to a big impact on both personal and environmental health.
When preparing for a move, it's crucial to handle hazardous materials with care to ensure both personal safety and environmental protection. Here's a detailed guide on responsibly disposing of these materials:
Identify hazardous materials: First, determine which items in your possession are considered hazardous. Common examples include paint, household cleaners, automotive fluids, batteries, and electronic waste.
Research local guidelines: Different locations have varying regulations regarding hazardous waste disposal. Contact your local recycling centre or waste disposal facility for specific instructions on how to manage these materials. They will inform you about any special disposal sites available in your area.
Consider safe alternatives: If possible, use up the materials before your move or donate them. Community centres, schools or local projects may accept certain items, like paint.
Package materials appropriately: When transporting hazardous materials to a disposal site, ensure they are securely sealed and labelled, to minimise the risk of leaks or accidents during transit.
When it comes to furnishing your new home, getting second hand furniture is a great way to help the environment as you will ultimately help them from ending up in a landfill. Using sites previously mentioned, like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and Vinterior, as well as looking in charity shops and car boot sales are all great ways to find hidden gems that you can re-use or up-cycle.
Our removals partner, AnyVan is the only carbon-neutral removals and delivery company in the UK, saving 8,520 tonnes of carbon annually!
By using these eco-friendly moving tips, you can make your move not only smoother but also more sustainable. Every small effort contributes to reducing your environmental impact and helps to preserve the planet for future generations. So, when you’re getting ready for a move, consider using these tips for a greener move.
Remember, your sustainable efforts don't need to stop on moving day. Moving to a new house is the perfect time to start new, eco friendly habits, such as turning off lights or recycling your household waste. If you're looking at ways to make your new home more sustainable? Our guide looks at various incentives and ways to make your home more energy efficient.
Get in touch with one of the team
If you would like to speak to your conveyancer, please log in to your eWay account where you can find their contact details.
Log in to eWayMonday - Friday
9am - 5pm
If you would like to discuss a quotation you have received please call our Move Specialists on
0333 234 4425Monday - Friday
9am - 5pm
If you would like to email us, please send it to the following email address:
quotations@myhomemoveconveyancing.co.ukMonday - Friday
9am - 5pm
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=icon}
){kind=icon}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)