Hey earth muffins! Moving into college is an exciting milestone, but (without thought) it can create a lot of extra waste just like any other move. Never fear – there are plenty of conscious choices you can make that align with your values to reduce your environmental impact! In this blog post, we’ll explore how to move into college the eco-friendly way to reduce your impact from day one. Let’s jump right into it!
1. Use plastic free packing materials!
When packing your belongings, opt for eco-friendly packing materials. Use suitcases, bags, and boxes you already have to minimize waste. If you need extra padding for those breakable items, use clothing or towels instead of bubble wrap or Styrofoam. This is a great alternative because you have to pack those soft items anyway! For all the non-eco packing materials you end up using, make sure to repurpose them or recycle them on campus.
Hey muffins! As I mentioned in my last post, my boyfriend and I are officially moved into our new place. π While it was difficult to stay sustainable throughout this process, there were a few things we were able to do during Plastic Free July to reduce our waste. Now that we are a few days into the unpacking process, I wanted to share some of my favorite tips for making a new apartment/space feel like “home”. Moving can be a chaotic process, so I find it absolutely essential to do these things to keep my mind at ease. Let’s jump right into it!
Ways to Make You Feel at Home
*Burn a candle while you unpack. Scents have always helped me cope with stress and anxiety, so keeping a candle burning is a must. Plus, it can get your new apartment smelling delightful! When choosing candles, make sure you buy soy wax from local sellers. Many candles from brands like Bath & Body Works are quite bad for the air/environment… So keep yourself healthy by choosing soy! π―οΈ
Also make sure you buy an eco-friendly lighter, like The USB Lighter Company’s! I wrote a whole review of this product, and I still LOVE their lighter. It is rechargable, has a sleek design, and is one of the first things I unpacked – definitely a must have for making your apartment feel like a home! π
*Keep the window shades open and get some natural light! Nothing is more depressing than unpacking boxes in dim lighting; make sure you get plenty of sunlight for your Vitamin D! Plus, this will keep you in a nice and happy mood in your new home.
*Add some nature to the space. My plants were some of the first things carried into the new apartment; my boyfriend’s family also gave us some flowers to celebrate us moving in together. π While a simple touch, having a bit of nature and bright colors/greens truly help make your new space feel homey.
Ways to Make You Feel at Home When Unpacking
*Get rid of the boxes as you go! I have been unpacking one room at a time; as soon as I am done with a box (or a couple of boxes), I take them outside to the recycling bin. This helps both to declutter the space and to declutter my mind… And it gives a more accurate depiction of what else needs to be unpacked! While it might sound like a small thing, it definitely helps a new space feel more like your own. π₯°
*Get rid of any clutter than somehow made the move. While one of the things in my eco-friendly moving post is how I declutter as I pack up, there were still a few things that slipped through the cracks. It is important for everything to have a meaning in your space, so donate items that you don’t want! This will ultimately make you feel at home and at peace with the material goods in your new space.
*Save the decorating for the final step of unpacking! Decorating the walls is my absolute favorite step whenever I move, so I often set aside a corner of the apartment and pile up all my wall decor there. After everything is cleaned and unpacked, reward youself with the decorations. π I think this step is the cherry on top for making a new space feel like a home! What are some of the first things you do when unpacking?
Hey earth muffins! As many of you know, I am currently in the process of moving across the state. My boyfriend and I are (finally) moving in together! π I will officially be moving out of my Ann Arbor apartment this weekend, so this week has been full of packing. All of this moving excitement has inspired me, so I wanted to write a post today all about how you can have an eco-friendly move. This fits perfectly with the spirit of Plastic Free July!
Tips for Staying Green When Packing
The number one thing I would recommend is to use boxes you already have. I was lucky enough to have a lot of extra closet space in my current apartment (as well as a storage bin in the basement of the complex); when I moved in last summer, I just kept all of the boxes! If you end up collecting more things throughout the year, I suggest saving the boxes from anything you get in the mail. You can also ask family and friends to save some boxes for you!
If you have to buy extra boxes or other packing materials, try to buy those that can be recycled. Many cardboard boxes can easily be recyled, but plastic tapes and bubble wrap are difficult to recycle. I suggest avoiding all plastic altogether – utilize clothing and linens you need to pack anyway to cushion fragile items! Not only is it more eco-friendly but it also saves space in your packing. π In terms of tape, there are actually paper tapes you can buy instead of the plastic ones. I personally don’t even use tape to close my boxes, but I would definitely check out the paper options!
As you pack, declutter!! When will you be going through everything you own again in the near future? It is the perfect opportunity to minimalize and downsize your possessions. But, make sure the items you don’t want anymore are reused in some way: sell them on Facebook Marketplace, donate to your local thrift store, or give to those who need them in your community.
How to Stay Eco-Friendly During the Actual Move
Make sure you take EVERYTHING with you from your old place! It is a common practice in a college town like Ann Arbor for students to just leave everything (even furniture) and buy new at the next place. This is, obviously, terrible for the planet. π Even if something is a hassle to move, still take it with you! Because you own it, you are responsible for its lifecycle. This also goes for little things: clean your shower rings, save your wall decals, keep the nails you remove from the walls, etc. These will have a use in your new place! π
Lastly, try to reduce your trips going back and forth to the new place. Because I am literally moving across the whole state, I hired movers to ensure I would only have to move once. Not only do I drive a tiny Kia Soul, but I will be lugging a queen mattress too – so movers were a must! Taking trips back and forth might seem more budget friendly, but I encourage you to borrow a friend’s van or something to reduce the trips you take!
Wish me luck on the move this weekend, I can’t wait to update you all on my new place. π What do you do to reduce waste when you are moving?
