Moving generates a lot of cardboard
The average household move uses dozens of boxes, rolls of plastic wrap, and foam padding that often ends up in the trash after delivery. You can protect your belongings and reduce waste at the same time with better material choices and a few reuse habits.
Start by needing fewer boxes
The greenest box is one you never buy. Before you shop for supplies:
- Sell or donate furniture you already plan to replace
- Pack suitcases, laundry hampers, and storage bins you are moving anyway
- Use towels, sweaters, and linens as padding around fragile items
Less volume also lowers long-distance moving cost when weight drives the quote.
Recycled and used cardboard
Ask grocery stores, bookshops, and neighbors for clean used boxes. Many retailers break down cartons daily and give them away free.
If you buy new, look for boxes made from recycled content. Standard medium boxes (18 x 18 x 16 inches) work for most household items. Heavy books go in small boxes so they stay liftable.
Swap plastic wrap for paper and fabric
Bubble wrap still has a place for glass and ceramics, but much of your home can ship with:
- Unprinted newsprint or packing paper for dishes and décor
- Corrugated cardboard sheets between framed art
- Moving blankets (rented or provided by your mover) for furniture instead of single-use plastic
Biodegradable packing peanuts exist, but paper stuffing is easier to recycle curbside in most cities.
Reusable container programs
Plastic moving bins with lids rent by the week in many metro areas. They stack cleanly, avoid tape, and return to the rental company when you finish. For a local move within the same city, bins can pay for themselves in time saved on breakdown and disposal.
Tape and markers
Paper-based packing tape tears by hand and recycles with cardboard. Avoid vinyl tape on boxes you plan to recycle. Label with a single dark marker instead of printed labels you peel off later.
What professional packers bring
If you hire packing services, ask what materials the crew uses. International Van Lines crews arrive with commercial-grade blankets, wardrobe cartons, and dish packs designed for multiple uses across many jobs. Professional packing reduces damage risk and often means fewer total cartons because items are packed efficiently.
After the move
Break down boxes flat and recycle them curbside or through a local buyback program. Offer clean boxes on neighborhood groups for the next family moving on your street. Keep a handful of good blankets and markers in the garage for future storage projects.
Plan a move with less waste
Good packing protects your shipment whether you use new or recycled materials. Get a quote from International Van Lines and ask about full packing, partial packing, or self-pack options for your next move.
