Pack Sustainably: How to Move House Without the Waste

A typical 2-bedroom move uses 30–60 cardboard boxes, metres of plastic bubble wrap, rolls of tape, and piles of foam packaging — most of which gets thrown out within a week. Add the fuel burned on multiple trips in an underpacked car, and moving house is one of the most wasteful things you will do all year.

The good news: most of this waste is avoidable. A few simple swaps and better planning can cut your move's footprint significantly — and save you money in the process.

Cardboard moving boxes are convenient but environmentally costly. Here are the alternatives:

• Reusable plastic moving crates: Many hire companies now offer plastic crate hire — you pick them up, fill them, move, empty them, and return them. Search "moving crate hire" in your city.
• Use what you already own: Suitcases, laundry baskets, storage tubs, overnight bags, gym bags — all pack and transport items without a single cardboard box.
• Free cardboard boxes: If you do use cardboard, get it free from Facebook Marketplace, Buy Nothing groups, or supermarkets. Break down and recycle after the move.

Bubble wrap is made from plastic and almost never gets recycled. Try these alternatives:

• Towels, tea towels, and linen: You are already moving these — use them to wrap glassware, plates, and ceramics. They are excellent shock absorbers.
• Clothing and soft furnishings: Jumpers, socks, and scarves protect fragile items just as well as bubble wrap.
• Newspaper: Traditional, effective, and fully recyclable.
• Cardboard dividers: Cut from other boxes — works perfectly for glasses and ceramics in crates.

Every car trip burns fuel and produces emissions. One perfectly packed trip beats three half-full trips — always. This is where stowey comes in. By knowing exactly how your items fit in your car before you start loading, you can eliminate unnecessary trips.

• Plan your loading order. Heavy items first, flat on the floor. Soft bags fill vertical space. Fragile items last.
• Use every cubic centimetre. Hollow items (pots, buckets, laundry baskets) should be stuffed with smaller items — never moved empty.
• Consider one van trip vs multiple car trips. Hiring a cargo van for a single fully-loaded trip is often lower in total emissions than 5–6 car trips.

The most sustainable thing you can do before moving is reduce what you are moving. Every item you declutter before moving day is one less item transported.

• Facebook Marketplace / Gumtree: Furniture, appliances, and electronics sell quickly. List items 3–4 weeks before the move.
• Buy Nothing groups: Great for items with low resale value — kitchen items, books, clothes, decor.
• Hard rubbish collection: Schedule your council pick-up to align with moving week.
• E-waste recycling: Old electronics, chargers, and batteries should never go in general rubbish.
• Mattress and furniture recycling: Organisations like Soft Landing (mattresses) and many charity op shops accept furniture in good condition.

If you are hiring a vehicle for moving day, it is worth asking about fuel efficiency. A smaller cargo van on a single organised trip will almost always produce fewer total emissions than multiple trips in a petrol SUV.

Some hire companies now offer hybrid or electric cargo vans in major cities. For local moves, an EV cargo van produces near-zero direct emissions.