Sustainable Packaging for moving house

There is a lot to think about when you decide to move house…
 
 
Scouring for suitable locations, transport links, schools and those nasty ever increasing mortgage rates. But when you’ve found your dream home, the stars align, and all the hassle suddenly seems worth it!
But then, you realise how much stuff you have, valuable stuff that needs packing and storing so that it arrives safely at your new home.

In the past, we’d think nothing of using tonnes of bubble wrap or cling film, to wrap and secure our delicate items, often resorting to getting creative like wrapping products in clothing or towels when that ran out. But if you’re looking for a more sustainable way to move house, then we’ve got a great guide for you.
   

How do I begin packing for a house move?

Firstly, we would highly recommend having a de-clutter to avoid packing, moving, and unpacking unnecessary items. This will also help to reduce how much you spend on packaging materials. Once, this is complete, you can start to look at how many boxes you will require. There’s a handy guide here on how many you may need, dependent on how big your current house is and how many people are moving.
 
 

Cardboard boxes

We would recommend some sturdy cardboard boxes. Preferably, double wall, to provide extra strength for those pots, pans, and heavy objects. Our double wall boxes are all FSC certified, meaning that they meet the gold standard of ethical production. They are produced from forests that are environmentally conscious, socially beneficial, and responsibly managed. 

There are a range of ColomPac boxes that are self-seal, instant bottom with a tear open strip, which can save time and effort and means the bonus of no plastic tape! The largest size on offer is 445 x 315 x 300mm. So not the biggest, but they do also offer a very handy overlapping bottom for extra strength and an adjustable depth, so there is no need for packaging peanuts to pad out your fragile items. 
 

If you have important documents, you’d like to keep safe, then Archive boxes are your best, keeping your paperwork flat and easily accessible (if you accidentally pack documents you need) with the accompanying lid.
 
 
 
  

Wrapping or protective materials

For your fragile items, we suggest either a honeycomb wrap (HoneyFlo) or paper voidfill (PaperFlo.)
  

HoneyFlo comes on a handy roll which is 2.5x longer than the standard roll of bubble and is ideal for cups, mugs, glasses, and plates. The honeycomb opens and holds its shape around the item, protecting the product. Being made from paper, it is easily foldable and easy to tear, negating any need for tapes or scissors, and is also a fully recyclable product.
 
 
PaperFlo is 300m of paper on a roll provided in a compact box, conveniently around the same size as a box of A4 paper. Being in a box makes it easy to pull through without unravelling the whole roll. The perforation on the box makes this easy-tear product even easier and it doesn’t require any scissors. It offers a great protective layer and is ink free, so won’t leave any residue on your items. PaperFlo is also 100% recyclable.
 Alternatively, you can use more traditional protective solutions…
 
Corrugated Roll is made of paper and so is 100% recyclable. With 75m on a roll, it offers great protection during transportation with its shock resistance feature, ensuring that your products will survive any bumps during the moving process. This can also be used to line your boxes to provide extra padding and protection.

Accessories

If you opt for the standard double wall boxes, you’ll need some tape to keep the boxes sealed.
 
The best environmentally friendly option, that is fully recyclable is Paper Tape. We have a number of options available to suit usages and budgets. The hot-melt adhesive will stick to most boxes and packaging materials.
 
  

 To make things even easier and ensure that your boxes are sealed quickly, we’d recommend a tape dispenser. The dispenser is operator friendly and its precision means that you will only use the tape that you need. The cutter on the dispenser negates the need for scissors making this a great time saving solution.
 
 
Permanent Markers might prove useful for writing on the sides of each box. If there are a lot of boxes when you arrive and you need to lay your hands on the kettle for a quick cuppa, then this will prove vital that they are labelled up clearly.
 
If you’re using a company, then highlighting that your mirror is fragile might feel pertinent, so we also have fragile labels or tape to draw attention to this. The red text against the white background cannot be missed so that the handler knows to take extra care.
 
  

So, there you have it…all of the items that you will need to pack and safely transport your valuables. As much as we would love to help you pack and move, we can’t. We can, however, help by delivering high quality products to you, in the quantities you need, when you need them, to make the buying of your packaging the easiest part of your moving process.