Did you know the average house move can generate almost 17kilos of CO2 emissions?
That’s the equivalent of leaving a light bulb switched on for 8 WEEKS!
We, at Macro Removals, are asked regularly by our customers if we’ve any advice on making a house move as eco-friendly as possible.
We do. And we’re sharing this information with you, too.
Here, we offer 6 important tips to help you reduce your carbon emissions to give you peace of mind that you’re doing everything possible to help the environment:
- Declutter
- Avoid food waste
- Select an eco-minded removal company
- Opt for recycled packing materials
- Choose environmentally-friendly cleaning products
- Know the correct way to dispose of furniture
1. Pre-Move Declutter
Before you begin packing, it’s definitely worth going through everything in your home to decide if there are items you don’t need anymore. From that box of out-of-date cassettes in the loft, to the bag of barely-used tools in the garden shed. Do you really need them? There are many charities that will happily take these items off your hands, maybe collect them for free.
Giving unwanted items away means they’re now back in circulation. It can raise money for a good cause and decrease the overall belongings that need to be moved. A significant declutter may even reduce the number of vans needed for your big day itself – and fewer vans means a healthy cut in CO2 emissions.
2. Food
If you’ve got a long, cross-country move on the horizon, you won’t want to risk emptying your fridge and taking perishable foods with you. Food doesn’t last long outside of the fridge and goes off even quicker in the hotter months of the year.
So give milk, fruit and meats to friends and neighbours before you set off.
According to Business Waste, ‘The UK throws away around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste in a single year – even though 8.4 million people in the UK are in food poverty.’ You don’t want to be part of this statistic!
3. Choosing an Eco Minded Removal Company
Without removal vehicles you’re not going to be able to move house; it’s as simple as that.
If you possess a small number of items you can squeeze them into a car and that’s great news!
But properties larger than a bedsit without furniture will no doubt require a removal van or truck.
So when contacting removal companies, request information about their vehicles. Make sure they use at least Euro 5 – or even better – Euro 6 engines.
In layman’s terms, the higher the number, the cleaner the engine. You can find more information about the technicalities on the automotive website.
Video property surveys are fast becoming the standard method for surveying a home or office to allow a removal company to provide a quote for its services. This method negates the need for a company representative to drive out to your property to conduct a survey in person.
It goes without saying that this reduces carbon emissions. We can’t recommend it enough!
4. Recycled Packing Materials
This is by far our TOP PICK to make your house move eco-friendly.
Packing materials can be a huge source of waste in a house move and rest assured, there are ways for you to reduce this waste significantly.
If you’ve hired a removal company, and if they have an environmental policy like ours, they’ll loan you boxes or plastic crates – with delivery included.
Also, like us, they‘ll provide recycled packing paper and bubble wrap to protect your delicate items from damage.
And after the move is complete, and leaving you with an agreed time to unpack, the removal company will then collect your packing materials. Now you don’t have to do anything more than sit back and enjoy your new home!
We love using recycled packing materials and believe it’s the best eco-tip when moving.
If you’re not using a removal company or using a company that doesn’t provide a loaned packing material service, you’ll need to source recycled packing materials for yourself.
First and foremost, don’t buy the boxes! You can find these in supermarkets and shops who’ll be more than happy to part with them – but make sure you get at least doubled-wall boxes.
With regard to packing paper, ask friends and family for old newspapers. Purchase eco-friendly bubble wrap online and the same goes for tape.
5. Eco-Friendly Cleaning
It’s more than likely both of the new and old properties will need a thorough clean before leaving and moving in. You can avoid harsh chemical-based cleaning products by purchasing eco-friendly cleaners from various outlets.
Here’s a link to a blog about the best eco-friend cleaning products.
6. Avoid Fly Tipping
It’s not uncommon to move house with furniture you’re planning to replace once you’ve moved and settled in.
When you’ve decided which items you want to replace, always contact charities first to check if they can take the old furniture.
If they don’t want it, advertise on Gumtree, eBay, Facebook Market Place and other social media groups.
Failing that, contact a licensed house clearance/rubbish company – but always ask for documents to prove they’re operating legitimately. A major problem is the incorrect disposal of rubbish. There are many ‘cowboys’ in the private waste industry who fly-tip and this causes environmental damage.
We hope you’ve found our 6 tips useful and we’ve clearly described what needs to be done to help you reduce your carbon emissions.
From decluttering before packing and using eco-friendly cleaning products, to recycling or borrowing packing materials and choosing an eco-minded removal company, we think combing these methods will help.
If you’ve any questions about this blog, or you’d like to book a packing, home or office removal service, please feel free to contact us at Macro Removals today.
This blog was edited by Greer Glover.
Disclaimer – This blog should only be viewed as a guide. Macro Removals Ltd cannot be held responsible for any injuries, loss of earnings, or death as a result of following this guide.
