Go green when hiring a moving van

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Moving can be a very stressful time, with all the planning and packing it can bring. Most people are happy just to find a man with a van service or other moving company that can assist them during this time. However, with just a little extra effort, you can easily plan a `green` move that has a much smaller impact on the environment.

Why is moving such an important part of our lives that really needs to `go green`? Think about the moving process. First you have to pack. This requires a multitude of supplies – boxes, plastic wrap, Styrofoam, etc. Most of these supplies become damage during the packing and unpacking process, and are usually disposed of. With the number of worldwide moves occurring each year, this leads to a large amount of avoidable waste. Then there is the driving part of the move. Usually large trucks (which require diesel fuel) are used as moving vans, emitting pollutants into the air.

You might be wondering what kind of impact you can have to improve this. If we want to see more green moving services, it’s important for customers to actively seek out green or environmentally friendly man and van services. Why is a man with a van more environmentally friendly than the large moving companies? Simply put, a man with a van is his own boss. He can create a green business with very little capital outlay, whereas this transition is much more expensive and therefore less likely to happen in a larger organization.

What signs of green service should you be looking out for when you hire a man with van? Consider the vehicle being used first. Older vehicles have much higher carbon emissions. You should inquire as to the year and maintenance of the vehicle for an indication of how environmentally friendly it is. You should also consider the type of packaging being offered for your move. Eco-cartons are a great option because they are environmentally friendly and can be re-used.

Some man with a van services may even offer “carbon neutral” service or allow you to purchase carbon credits. What this means is that a donation is made through an organization specializing in carbon offsets. Based on the amount of pollutants being created through the drive of your move, this third party organization will supply a dollar amount to cover the cost of planting enough trees to literally “offset” the carbon that you created.

Read more at Talking About Green