Do not buy all new packaging materials. There are many ways to reduce the impact of the excess waste that is thrown around the world on a daily basis. As someone preparing to move, there are many options to avoid harming the planet; like: don’t use shiny new boxes for disposal. The new boxes only add to the excess production and distribution. Check out places that once used boxes, most of the time there are very affordable options; some may be free, while others may be discounted green moving packages that include all the necessary packing accessories. Many companies are faced with the difficult situation of properly disposing of waste to meet certain government restrictions and standards, and taking the boxes away from them is actually doing them a favor. TIP: Don’t be afraid to dish out a couple cents to save the environment if you have to.

Buy single-use boxes. Packaging companies face a lot of persecution when it comes to excessive waste or lack of GREEN sensitivity in daily business practice. Due to this extreme pressure, many companies are developing new options for planet-conscious packaging solutions. It’s easy to find used boxes that are still strong and just as effective as new boxes. Packaging companies are taking it upon themselves to provide affordable ways for customers to continue to receive quality packaging at affordable prices, with our planet in mind. There’s nothing worse than going broke trying to save your planet, but you can’t afford to live on it anymore.

Recycle household products. Be resourceful. Start gathering shopping bags, towels and/or rags that you have at home. There are also plenty of pens and markers that are great for marking boxes, including stickers, or just color coding. Purple for the bedroom, green for the kitchen or brown for the living room…you get the hint. Get a little creative and search the house for string, twine, or whatever to tie the boxes together and tape them shut. Minimized excess equals minimal cost and damage to the environment, think about conserving and preserving, not wasting.

Don’t pack it. If you don’t know what it is, don’t bring it. If you have not used or used it for 6 months, please do not pack it. There are numerous reasons for filtering your possessions or the many trinkets that fill a home over time:

1) A fresh start for a fresh new space,

2) more room for the new stuff you’ll wear or use, or the real big one here:

3) fewer things to move and therefore savings on boxes and gas, the two deadly ecological sins.

Lots of people don’t have and would really use what you don’t use, use what you waste, and put what you’ve lost to good use. So if it’s not in your top 10, don’t pack it.

Reduce.Reuse.Recycle That sums up all the points we’ve discussed. Reduce price, waste and gasoline. Reuse boxes, tape, markers, and packing fillers. Recycle your possessions by giving to charity. The basic green code, all broken down for an earth and wallet friendly moving day!