Move Green: Eco-Friendly Packing and Moving Tips for a Lighter Footprint

When it comes to moving, the excitement of a fresh start can be overshadowed by the looming environmental impact. Mountains of cardboard boxes, plastic packing peanuts, and fuel-guzzling trucks paint a picture far from sustainable. But fear not, eco-conscious movers! Packing and moving doesn't have to be a burden on the planet. With a few mindful decisions and some creative thinking, you can make your move as green as your thumb.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The Golden Rule of a Sustainable Move

The first step to a greener move is embracing the classic sustainability mantra: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Reduce: Declutter before you pack. Sort through your belongings and be ruthless. Donate, sell, or recycle unused items. Not only will it lighten your load and wallet, but it'll also minimize resources needed for transport and disposal.

Reuse: Ditch the single-use cardboard boxes. Instead, consider renting reusable plastic boxes from companies like Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies. These sturdy, weatherproof boxes are a more eco-friendly option, reducing both paper waste and the need for virgin materials.

Recycle: If you must buy cardboard boxes, choose recycled content options. When unpacking, flatten and bundle them for recycling or reuse by others. Look for opportunities to reuse other household items for packing, like towels, blankets, and clothes, for cushioning delicate items.

Packing with the Planet in Mind:

• Packing peanuts be gone: Skip the plastic peanuts and styrofoam. Opt for biodegradable alternatives like packing peanuts made from cornstarch or recycled paper. You can even create your own "peanuts" by shredding old newspapers.

• Embrace natural cushioning: Utilize linens, clothes, and towels to wrap fragile items. Not only does it save resources, but it also keeps your belongings snug and secure.

• Label wisely: Use reusable markers or paint instead of disposable packing tape labels.

• Think multi-use: Pack items together based on their destination room, reducing the need for separate unpacking trips.

Moving with Minimal Emissions:

• Consider local: If possible, choose a local moving company to minimize transportation emissions. Explore alternative transport options like renting a fuel-efficient car or van if you're doing the move yourself.

• Fill 'er up: Maximize truck space by efficiently packing boxes. Consider consolidating smaller items into larger boxes or using space-saving techniques like vacuum-packing clothing.

• Fuel efficiency wins: If hiring movers, inquire about their commitment to fuel-efficient vehicles and eco-friendly practices.

Beyond the Move:

• Dispose responsibly: Recycle cardboard boxes, biodegradable packing materials, and used markers. Properly dispose of any non-recyclable materials.

• Embrace your new digs: Research energy-efficient appliances and sustainable home improvement options for your new place.

Partner with Green Champions:

Don't forget to explore companies that align with your eco-conscious values. For example, Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies offers a sustainable alternative to traditional cardboard boxes with their reusable plastic boxes. They also prioritize fuel-efficient trucks and minimize waste in their operations.

Remember, every small step counts! By incorporating these tips and partnering with eco-friendly companies like Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies, you can ensure your move is not only smooth and stress-free but also kind to the planet. Let's pack our way to a greener future, one box at a time!

Additional Resources:

• Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies: https://www.elephanttrunk.net/home

• US Environmental Protection Agency: Moving & Relocation https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/our-mission-and-what-we-do

• The Green Moving Guide: https://www.moving.com/tips/green-moving-tips-eco-friendly-move/

With a little planning and creativity, you can make your move not just a personal change, but a positive change for the environment too. Happy green moving.

Summer Moving: Expert Packing Tips for a Smooth Transition

Moving during the summer season can be both exciting and daunting. With proper planning and organization, you can ensure a smooth transition to your new home. One of the key aspects of a successful move is efficient packing. In this article, we will share expert tips on how to pack effectively for a summer move. These tips will not only help you streamline the packing process but also ensure that your belongings arrive safely at your new destination. So, let's dive in and master the art of summer moving!

Start Early and Create a Plan

The key to a stress-free move is to start packing well in advance. Summer is a busy season for moving, and you don't want to leave everything until the last minute. Begin by creating a comprehensive plan that outlines the tasks and deadlines leading up to the moving day.

Start by decluttering your belongings. Sort through your items and decide what to keep, donate, or discard. This will help reduce the number of things you need to pack and lighten the load. Make a list of essential packing supplies such as boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and markers.

Pack Room by Room

To maintain order and minimize confusion, pack one room at a time. Begin with rooms that are used less frequently, such as the guest room or storage areas. Label each box with the name of the room it belongs to and its contents. This will make unpacking much easier later on.

As you pack, be mindful of fragile items. Wrap them individually with packing paper or bubble wrap to prevent any damage during the move. Use towels, blankets, or clothing to provide cushioning for delicate objects. Fill empty spaces in boxes with packing peanuts or crumpled paper to avoid shifting.

Take Advantage of Summer Weather

Moving in the summer means you can take advantage of longer daylight hours and pleasant weather conditions. Use this opportunity to pack and move items that are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Fragile items such as electronics, vinyl records, or musical instruments can be affected by heat or cold. Keep them in a climate-controlled environment during transportation.

Pack an Essentials Box

When you arrive at your new home, you'll likely be exhausted from the move. Packing an essentials box will ensure you have immediate access to the items you'll need right away. Include items such as toiletries, a change of clothes, bedding, important documents, and basic kitchen supplies. This way, you won't have to search through numerous boxes to find your essentials on the first day.

Rent Plastic Moving Boxes

Research companies in your area that offer dropping off and picking up plastic boxes for you to pack and unpack without hassle. They are easy to pack, store, transport, and unpack. You don’t need to find space in your new home to store the boxes after you unpack. Plastic boxes are environmentally friendly.

 

Seek Professional Help

Moving can be overwhelming, especially during the summer when everyone is on the move. Consider hiring professional movers to assist you with the moving process. They have the expertise and resources to handle your belongings with care and efficiency. Research and choose a reputable moving company in advance to secure their services during the peak moving season.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of summer moving involves strategic planning and effective packing.

·       By starting early, creating a plan, and packing room by room, you can simplify the moving process.

·       Take advantage of the favorable weather, pack an essentials box, and consider professional assistance to ensure a smooth transition to your new home.

·       With these expert tips, you'll be well-prepared to tackle your summer move with confidence. Good luck with your relocation!

If you have questions about renting plastic boxes, feel free to reach out to the Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies Team!

Elephant Trunk Enlightenment

I’m in the van a lot, most often by myself, and besides lip synching to lonesome-themed songs I think some. And what I’m thinking about lately is how our customers are enlightened, but not only to the extent that they are aware of a concept of which not so many are aware - that of using reusable boxes and products to move - but also of their load.

If a book can be entitled, our customers can be enlightened. We enlighten your ecological load of how to dispose of your boxes when you are done with them; we enlighten your financial load as we are easily affordable to those in the market of moving supplies purchase; and we enlighten your physical load in terms of ease of use. As a source of enlightenment, you can’t beat Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies! So when the time comes for you to move on down that lonesome road in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, give Elephant Trunk Moving Supplies some consideration. We’ll enlighten you, and maybe teach you how to better lip synch.

Packing & Moving is a Family Affair

Moving is never easy, but making it a team effort helps quite a bit! One of our favorite anecdotes from a customer was that they had their Elephant Trunk moving crates delivered and their teenage daughter grabbed a box and started packing without even being asked! Imagine, that could be your experience!

All packed up in the Elephant Trunk box and ready for the new house!

Tips for Getting Family Motivated to Pack

• Make it a game! Who can pack the most drawers in the kitchen the fastest?

• Set time frames - we’ll pack for this one song, then dance party during the next! Pack boxes for 30 minutes, play a game for 15 minutes!

• Find a fun audiobook or podcast that the whole family wants to listen to and ONLY listen to it while packing! Or individual audiobooks/podcasts specifically listened to while packing

• Plan something fun for after - a special meal out, go see a movie, go window shop for furniture for the new place!

There is no perfect science, but find what motivates your family and find ways to spend quality time together during it! Moving is stressful for everyone involved, kids included. Possibly changing schools, having to make new friends, learn a new house, so the motivation to pack up and head into that great unknown can be difficult. Make it fun, make it exciting, use it as an opportunity to make memories!

And with Elephant Trunk moving bins, you don’t have to worry about assembly, going to pick up boxes and tape, or disposing of the boxes after the move is done! Your family can easily grab the boxes, pack them, and close them up themselves!

As a family-owned and operated business, who better to get advice from on working together as a family!?

Happy packing!

Packing Tips With Instant Gratification

Obviously most aspects of moving are not fun at ALL - at least not until you’re in the new space and get to settle in and really make it your own. But packing honestly feels the most tedious of all - and requires so much thought and can lead to serious decision fatigue. Should you put all the bathroom stuff in one box, or pack based on categories in each room? What about the small stuff? What about the big stuff? It’s just a lot.

Well, these tips are intended to help you feel like you got a lot done without a lot of thought or effort. These are also great steps if you’re putting your house on the market and need to start pre-packing.

1. Pack Books

An empty bookcase will make you feel like there’s nothing left to do, the satisfaction after packing up books is so great. And a great thing about the Elephant Trunk moving boxes is that they don’t have to be taped closed, so if you packed something into a container that you didn’t mean to pack, or you made the box too heavy, you can easily pull it out and reorganize!

If you have an organizing system for your books, be sure to reference it somehow on the label. Whether you label by genre or label by what the bookcase looks like. Streamline your unpacking and do your future self a favor by specifying what needs to go where.

If an empty bookcase doesn’t feel like a HUGE win, well then just go to the next tip!

2. Pack Half of your Clothes (At Least)

If you’re selling your home & your Realtor didn’t tell you this before listing… well now I am telling you! Pack all your out-of-season clothes, special occasion clothes, “goal” clothes (we all have them), and maybe take this opportunity to clear out clothes you haven’t worn in a long time! Large Elephant Trunk packing boxes are perfect for clothes because they won’t get too heavy to carry if you’re moving yourself.

Vacuum bags are also a great option, especially for storing out of season clothes after the move!

This also goes for shoes, coats, accessories, anything that you’re not wearing between now and after your move you probably do not need to take up space in your closet anymore! And if you’re listing your house the added bonus is that it shows way better to potential buyers with less stuff clogging the space.

3. Pack Your Linen Closet

Extra towels, extra sheets, extra comforters, the keyword here is EXTRA. You do not need those things at this time when you are getting ready to move! You may have to do a little more laundry, but have way less stuff to pack in the future!

4. Pack Special Occasion Items

Just like how you don’t need any special occasion clothes hanging in your closet, you don’t need any special occasion serving dishes or holiday decor taking up space in your kitchen or storage closet or attic!

Now is a great time to pack your china cabinet, maybe leave the display items out (minimize wherever possible), but you can pack all the extra dishes, serving bowls, steak knives, and anything in the drawers and cabinets. We provide a great wrap to protect your dishes, as well as a quilted glassware storage case, and you can use newspaper in your recycle bin if you have any!

Any wreaths that are not in use, seasonal decorations, and anything you don’t plan to use in the next month or so while moving can definitely be packed up first.

Those are our top tips for packing that will give you some instant gratification - just a little dose of serotonin in a process that is not easy on anyone. Although, something that makes all moving experiences easier is Elephant Trunk! Be sure to check out our rentable moving boxes that can be delivered right to your door, that don’t require assembly, and make pre-packing a little less committal. Click here to take a look at our products and prices! And don’t forget to check out our reviews if you’re not totally sold!