Hiring Green Movers
The indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources to support industry needs has caused a major setback to the environment. Thus, as the contemporary zeitgeist paints the town green, advocacy for environmental protection had become the clarion call of many individuals and even businesses. Thus, it is no wonder that even in the moving industry, there are companies who label themselves “green movers”.
Moving companies who are advocating eco-friendly practices are conspicuously highlighting this attribute so that responsible citizens are properly informed and guided. With all the carton boxes that are generally used in the process of moving, it cannot be denied that the job itself can be a danger to the environment. Carton boxes are usually made of trees and other packing materials such as cushions, packing tapes and foams, which sometimes have toxic substances which are inimical to the earth’s atmosphere. If you want to move homes without causing damage to our permanent one, you must hire a moving company that is concerned with the protection of nature as much as the quality performance of their service.
How can you do it though, with the sheer number of moving companies out there that are promoting their services? To ensure that the company you are hiring is an eco-friendly one, you can do your part by asking them some key questions:
1. What kind of boxes are they using?
Do they have the option to use reused carton boxes or do they only allow new carton boxes? If they rent out packing crates, how are these environmentally friendly? Most green moving companies will rent you out convenient, reusable plastic crates that they will pick up from you after your move. Some of them donate proceeds of these renting costs to environmental causes or charities.
2. What kind of cushioning materials are they using?
Most movers include peanut foams and the infamous bubble wrap to serve as cushion to the furniture or fragile material during transportation. Bubble wraps and peanut foams are usually not reusable and they cannot be easily disposed of. In addition, they are also made of harmful materials that have ill effects on the environment. Instead of getting these items to protect your belongings, why not choose biodegradable peanut foams or old newspaper? If you are using newspaper, be aware that the ink may stain certain items.
3. Are they claiming for themselves that they are offering green moving services?
Since the hype of environmental consciousness has been coloring the practices of many businesses, many moving companies you contact may offer green moving features or, in rare cases, may pretend to in order to gain your business. Be sure to check that the company rules stipulated in the contract confirm they are an eco-friendly company, and to inquire about what exact methods they are taking to protect the environment
4. Are they advocating for reduction of things to be packed?
The less you pack, the less you hurt the environment—and your bank account.
5. Are they using bio-diesel trucks?
With the increasing grip that green thinking has on the public consciousness, more and more heavy-haul diesel trucks are being manufactured to run off of bio-diesel. Bio-diesel fuel is made from biodegradable raw goods and thus enables the engines it turns to be more merciful to the environment, producing considerably less carbon dioxide emissions than any other alternatives available for diesel vehicles.
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