There’s no denying that moving house is an exciting time – it marks a new chapter in anyone’s life – however it’s also a time full of stresses, strains and inevitable hiccups.

With this in mind, being ‘green’ and environmentally friendly is generally the least of anyone’s worries; the main aim is to get through the move without losing your temper with the removal men or smashing your late granny’s favourite china vase in the process.

That said, it’s not difficult to incorporate ways to be green in your move; it won’t cost you a thing, won’t slow down the process and you’ll feel great about doing your bit for the environment!

Follow the steps outlined below to be kind to Mother Nature whilst moving house…

Lighten your Load

The easiest and most obvious way to make your move greener is to take less stuff with you; this will reduce the fuel needed to haul all your things to your new home; contributing less co2 emissions into the atmosphere.

And the benefits don’t stop at the environment; getting rid of unnecessary possessions has positives for you too.

Firstly, there will be less clutter in your new home, and less stuff to unpack; after all, if you know you’re never going to use something then you might as well get rid and start afresh.

Secondly, your moving costs will likely be lower; removers tend to charge you based on the weight of your possessions.

Finally, you may be able to make some extra cash; holding a garage sale or driving down to a car boot sale with your unwanted items may leave you with some money in your pocket that you never knew you had; your rubbish might just be someone else’s treasure!

Ditch the Boxes

If one thing was vital to the moving house process it would be boxes – you need to pack your stuff up in something! Most people tend to use second hand cardboard boxes from shops or warehouses, and although re-using old boxes is a green thing to do, it isn’t the most practical of ideas due to the fact that old boxes get weaker and weaker each time they are used and therefore become less sturdy and more likely to split.

Obviously you don’t want your belongings carried around in boxes that are falling apart, so instead of using cardboard, go for plastic crates. There are many rental companies which provide them especially for the purpose of moving house, and the process is easy and stress free.

Simply reserve as many crates as you need online and the company will deliver them to your house. You can then pack up your belongings, move to the new house and the company will then pick the crates up from your when you’re ready!

Pick the Right Removal Truck

Last but not least, it is important to do some research into the type of removal truck you’re using if you want to be a green as you possibly can. An increasing number of removal companies are using trucks that run on biodiesel, which runs a lot cleaner than normal fuel and therefore does a whole lot less damage to planet earth.

This may require a little extra effort on your part, but aren’t a few phone calls worth saving the Earth?

Happy green moving!