| While you are preparing to pack for your move, | | | | you use for your move. To reduce your impact, |
| consider that the biggest impact on the | | | | try to be conservative when using it. |
| environment you can have is to be aware of the | | | | Foam Peanuts |
| supplies and materials you use. See how you can | | | | Foam peanuts, also known as packing peanuts, |
| decrease your impact and save some money on | | | | are a loose-fill material used by movers to |
| the side. | | | | prevent damage to your breakable items by |
| Cardboard Boxes | | | | cradling them and flowing around to provide |
| Probably the most used type of packing material | | | | protection from all sides. Some of your breakable |
| you will need for moving are boxes. One of the | | | | items can be packed in crumpled newspaper or |
| best thing you can do is to try and find used | | | | used office paper instead. If you need to |
| boxes from friends, family, and commercial | | | | purchase foam peanuts, be sure to purchase the |
| stores. A great online source, which may also | | | | biodegradable kind, as they tend to fly |
| save you some money, is If you have boxes | | | | everywhere during transport to a landfill. Some |
| that are still in good condition after your move, | | | | mailing centers and maybe even your moving |
| you can send them to this company to be | | | | company will accept foam peanuts for reuse. |
| reused. | | | | Wrapping with Bubbles |
| You will find some companies, such as | | | | Bubble wrap is most commonly used to protect |
| EarthFriendlyMoving.com, which rent out durable | | | | breakable items that are sent with your movers. |
| plastic crates for moving, however, these crates | | | | Bubble wrap has a big carbon footprint and is hard |
| are usually only available for local rather than long | | | | to recycle, however, some mailing service centers |
| distance moves. | | | | such as the UPS store will accept it for reuse in |
| Packing Tape | | | | their shipments. You can reduce the impact of |
| The next most used type of packing material is | | | | this material by using other household materials |
| tape. There really aren't many options, | | | | such as towels, blankets, pillows, and paper to |
| unfortunately, when it comes to the type of tape | | | | protect your breakable items from moving. |