Eco-Friendly Moving Boxes in San Francisco: How to Achieve an Eco-Friendly Move

In a city that is trying to fulfill a zero waste policy, one thing San Francisco residents can do to reduce their carbon footprint is organize an eco-friendly move when they’re moving in San Francisco. The best part? Turns out there are lots of benefits to going green! Achieving an eco-friendly move is relatively easy and can even save you time and money. Below are some simple but useful ideas to get you started.

Rent Plastic Moving Boxes

There are many reasons why cardboard moving boxes in San Francisco (and elsewhere) are not the most eco-friendly option. Some cardboard moving boxes made from recycled materials contain harmful chemicals like Diisobutyl Phthalate from inks, glues, and other substances. Ideally, cardboard moving boxes would be recycled post-move, but sometimes they end up in landfills, leaching these chemicals into the earth. As well, the recycling process in itself uses energy and resources. Finding and using free moving boxes in San Francisco is an okay option for being eco-friendly, since it’s repurposing and reusing an item, but used moving boxes can cause complications during your move. For instance, free moving boxes tend to have some wear and tear and are therefore not able to properly secure and hold your belongings. It can also be challenging to find free moving boxes in San Francisco, so acquiring cardboard moving boxes can be a drain on your time. An eco-friendly, time saving, and affordable option is to rent plastic moving boxes. The moving boxes from Brute Box, for example, are made from recycled plastic and will last a lifetime. Plastic moving boxes never have to end up in a landfill and don’t have to go through the recycling process. They’re simply made once and can be used again and again. Renting plastic moving boxes will save you time, too, since they will be delivered and picked up from your house as part of an on-demand moving delivery service.

Packing Paper Made from Recycled Newsprint

Now that you’ve found an eco-friendly moving box option in San Francisco, the next step is eco-friendly packing supplies. For many items, packing paper is a must. Newsprint can be a green option, but it can stain your belongings. And who wants to spend their time scrubbing ink off dishes right after they’ve moved in? A green alternative is packing paper made from recycled materials. You can select packing paper made from recycled newsprint, for example, that’s sturdy and reliable and will efficiently protect your belongings during the moving process. Packing paper is reusable and recyclable, too, so it can keep being eco-friendly even after you’re done with it.

Using Towels to Insulate Items

Your own household items can be great options for insulating a moving box. With plastic moving boxes, too, you don’t need to worry about moisture seeping through (and we all know that San Francisco can have some rainy days). Towels are great for layering the bottom of a moving box, providing just a little bit of extra cushioning for fragile items. Towels are also good for filling any gaps or empty spaces so that your belongings are fully insulated. If you use your own towels to insulate items in free moving boxes, definitely wash them after. If you use them in plastic moving boxes, your towels will remain clean. No washing required, which further reduces the carbon footprint of your moving process.

Bubble Wrap or Styrofoam?

Of all the decisions during the moving process, this is the easiest one to make. Bubble wrap for the win! According to Bay Area city websites, there are no viable, cost-effective markets currently available for recycling expanded polystyrene (styrofoam). Bubble wrap, on the other hand, can be placed in your recycling bin and sent to the recycling facility. Another way to be green if you need to use bubble wrap is to choose a company like Brute Box that guarantees their bubble wrap is 100% recyclable.

Order Moving Supplies from One Place

Rather than driving all over San Francisco to find moving supplies or ordering from several companies, order your moving supplies from one place. This will make your move eco-friendly by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As a bonus, you’ll also save time and money on shipping if you order your moving supplies from the same company. Want more ideas for eco-friendly moving in San Francisco? Brute Box has rentable moving boxes, environmentally friendly packing supplies, moving supplies, and more. Check out all of our green moving supplies, or give us a call and let us know how we can help!