Green Blog

Sure, any box can be a moving box, but are your boxes reliable? Believe it or not, having the right kind of box is going to be the difference between a smooth move and a hectic one. Not having the right box can result in boxes giving out and breaking your belongings. Not having the right box can also mean that you’re not packing everything you could inside of one box. That can actually increase your moving costs if you’re using a moving service that charges by the hour, by the day, or by the truckload. More boxes mean more time and more space, so you want to make sure you plan this out right.

The supermarket box

Many individuals call their local supermarket and ask them if they can put boxes aside for them because they are moving. What happens is the mover finds that there are more little boxes than big boxes when they pick them up. Another thing to consider is the fact that all of these boxes have been used to ship items before and have now been broken down. This means you have to tape them back together over top of the old tape that was cut through when the employees were breaking them down. This can actually interfere with how well the bottom of the box comes together when you are taping it back together.

Supermarket boxes also consist of cardboard durability that can vary. It can be somewhat hard to determine how much weight a box can actually hold and, with all of the small boxes, you’re risking having to make more trips while you move.

The moving box

Moving supply stores sell moving boxes that are meant just for moving. They are durable so that your belongings are protected and they come in the sizes you need. You do have the option to choose from new boxes or used moving boxes. Used boxes are going to be cheaper, of course. However, you have to ask yourself if you want boxes someone else has used before. If you don’t have a problem with that, then you can go for the used box.

Here are three things you want to look for in a moving box:

The size: You may need different sizes for different things. If you have fragile items, you don’t want to stack too many of them on top of each other. However, books and other unbreakable items can be stacked until a comfortable weight is reached within the box.

Weight: It is important that you evaluate the weight that the box is capable of holding. This is something a supermarket box won’t tell you. You are safer knowing the weight because you then know how much you can put inside the box.

Type: There are different types of boxes such as dish boxes and wardrobe boxes. These boxes are specially designed to better protect your belongings. By moving items in boxes that are especially made for those items, you are reducing the chances of damage.

What to do?

It is up to you as to what boxes you want to use, but know that the moving box is going to give you the security you need when looking for moving boxes and moving supplies. Sometimes it’s not worth taking the risk and hoping that a box won’t break. Sometimes hoping that a box that is destined to break won’t break isn’t going to do much good. But having a box that is designed for what you’re using it for and even comes with usage instructions to ensure the utmost safety of your items is worth the cost.

EcoBox is a moving box, shipping and packing supply store that includes used and recycled moving boxes. Our excellent customer service aims to provide your moving and shipping needs while helping to save the environment through recycling. Visit our new location in San Antonio: EcoBox 18130 US Hwy 281 North #100 San Antonio, TX 78232 (210) 267-1614‎

The fate of the world is in our hands. The state of the environment becomes more dire with every report that is broadcast. It all rests on our shoulders. Could it get any more overwhelming? Though the task is big, every person can make a substantial difference, but where to start? The answer is simple: recycling boxes.

People need to be educated about the ways that they can personally help with global efforts. For that there have been public service ads running for years on end. However, for some people even what these ads propose is still overwhelming. For these people it is wisest to start small with just one type of recyclable material.

Boxes are everywhere. They are used to package the food we buy in the grocery store, the toys we buy for kids, and not to mention for shipping purposes. They can quickly fill up a trash can, so think how quickly they can add up in a landfill, especially if they are not broken down. By recycling the boxes along there is a lot that is taken out of the landfill.

Once it is recycled what happens next? It gets turned into other stuff, of course! It can easily end up back on the supermarket shelf, right where you found it the first time. It can be turned into a paper grocery sac. It could also be used for heavy duty cardboard needs. Think in terms of how it could be used in industrial factory packing supplies. This greatly reduces the amount that is needed to come from raw materials.

It can end up being recycled over and over again. Long have people lamented about the number of trees it takes to put out the Sunday edition of the newspaper, but that does not have to be that way. If it is printed on recycled paper then it is in fact not harming any trees at all. By making sure that the paper makes it back to the recycling bin when it is done that you have ensured that the box it originally came from can continue to live on.

Once you get the hang of the whole box concept, you can widen your scope a little to include other types of recyclables. Next try to add the pop bottles that you drink every day. These take a considerable amount of time to break down in a landfill, so to start making sure they make into the recycling heap is a great thing.

As the bottles are recycled and make their way back to store shelves, they sometimes take on a completely different form than before. Sure, they can be turned right back into plastic containers again, but that is not all. You might buy a shirt and find that it has been made from recycled plastic. These really have very few limits as to what they can end up being.

The bottom line is that we are all charged with the task of being super heroes and saving the world. It can be done. If you are unsure of where to start just begin with recycling boxes. It is a modest beginning, but once you get a handle on it you can branch out to all sorts of wonderful things.

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Recycling moving boxes does not only help the environment, but can also help you save money. For example, cardboard boxes may be used in interior decoration projects, carriers for pets, storage, shipping, arts and crafts, just to name a few. It would be interesting to see how many dollars you save at the end of the year. Below are just a few ideas to get you started.

Interior design projects: If you are just getting starting on your own and don’t have much to spend on furniture, recycling your used boxes into tables and seats is an economical way to furnish your home. With a bit of imagination, scraps of paper and glue, you can decorate your boxes to give your furniture that special personal touch. These boxes work particularly well when recycled into children’s furniture, coffee tables and displays.

Your family pet can also appreciate the versatility of this recycled material. Whether you have a cat, dog or rabbit, you will always need some type of portable home to move it around. A used box can make an excellent pet carrier to transport it to its annual check-up at the veterinary, or simply to take it for a visit to a friend’s place. The same type of used box can also be used to build a more permanent home for your pet that can be replaced on a regular basis, thus maintaining a clean environment for the animal at all times.

Boxes made of cardboard have the advantage of being light. This is an important feature to consider when having to move things around. If you are like many, you will soon be storing your clothing and footwear, to make space for the next season’s apparel. This may involve packing and unpacking up to four times a year.

Used boxes also make neat packages for sending gifts. Besides Christmas, there are several other occasions where you might need boxes, such as for Easter, a marriage or someone’s birthday. Whatever the occasion, it is always handy to have some boxes ready to gift wrap. The smaller size boxes are mostly used, but on occasion you might need a bigger box for those larger presents, such as bedding, statues or non-standard size objects.

Arts and crafts: There are numerous artists that use cardboard as a medium for their craft. Some of these artists have produced amazing sculptures out of cardboard boxes. Cardboard is also very popular among kindergarten teachers where they must be inventive at all times. Making castles, doll houses and stages for plays, are just a few of the many uses for the used boxes.

Another great way to save some bucks is by making your own cooker out of cardboard and other low cost materials, using the sun to cook food. While you’re at it, you can also make your own heater to keep you warm in the winter by using boxes and a few other inexpensive materials. The beauty of it all is that you don’t even have to spend on energy, since the sun is furnishing all that you need to power it. For all your recycled boxes needs contact us.

Now that you know the advantages of recycling moving boxes, you can put these into practice today. It will not only serve mother Earth but also your personal finances.

Need boxes for moving? Why not try using used moving boxes, or even used shipping boxes! They’re much cheaper, and much more environmentally friendly too.

Nobody enjoys the process of shifting. All the packing, unpacking and heavy lifting involved, make it a burdensome task. Even making preparations to move can be a hassle, for instance in having to look for boxes to pack your belongings into. Buying brand new boxes is quite a waste of money, considering that you are only going to need them to transport your stuff. The better, more economical option would be to get used moving boxes. Here are some ideas on where you can find them.

Your local supermarket is the perfect starting point. Supermarkets generally get most of their merchandise in boxes thus, there is going to be a large amount of boxes that they throw out everyday. Check with the store manager or approach staff who unload and unpack the goods to see if they can give you some. Most stores have no further use for these boxes and will let you have them.

Electrical goods stores are another option to consider, as they might have spare boxes from display items or damaged goods. Alternatively, you can just hit the trash. Recyclables like cardboard boxes are stored separately from the rest of the rubbish so, it might not be as dirty an option as you imagine.

If you are getting professional movers to shift your stuff, you might be able to get boxes from them at a discounted rate. The internet is another excellent tool to aid your shifting needs. There are numerous websites that sell both new and used boxes which you can buy separately or as a set. Some sites provide listings of people in your area that are looking to get rid of boxes, allowing you to take them for free!

Most stores and households have their recyclable items taken to a recycling plant. This makes it another option on your source list. You can call your local recycling plant to check if they have boxes. They might allow you to take them for free or for a small fee.

When you are out searching for boxes, be sure to check for potential sources closest to you. Check with your friends or neighbors if any of them have used moving boxes to spare. Your office could also have some to supply. Check with the shipping division or simply take leftovers from the storage room or make use of photocopy paper boxes that are usually thrown away. Of course, be sure to clear it with your boss first.

When you’re packing, a good strategy would be to use the newer boxes for items that you generally keep in storage, like Christmas decorations for instance. For long term storage, you also might want to invest in plastic boxes that are more durable and sturdy. These are best for items like winter clothes and shoes.

These tips should help you find used moving boxes to make your big move that much easier. Once you are done with them, be sure to pass them on so you can help someone one else out. You could also pass on some of these tips!

Need boxes for moving? Why not try using recycled boxes San Antonio, or even used shipping boxes! They’re much cheaper, and much more environmentally friendly too.

It is most unfortunate that reducing the pollutants that industries spew into the environment leads to increased cost of the products and services they provide. Techies tend to get excited about the possibilities of upcoming technologies such as super-crystals or nano-microchips. These things are innovative and bring out the curiosity of the technologically inclined. The other side of this, though, is the trendy consumer who must acquire everything new and shiny because “everybody who is anybody” has one. There are a lot of folks walking around with the latest in wireless cell phones listening to music without earbuds who don’t give a whit about either the technology involved or even the music. They are fashionable.

Car owners tend to follow the same pattern. To many of them, a car is a luxury item, while to others it a symbol of status, an achievement to display. There are approximately 25% of car owners worldwide who own their vehicle not out of necessity, but because “everybody has one.” Some own cars even though it is not sensible or convenient to do so. Yet these same people will do anything, even work multiple jobs so they can show that they own a car, whether used or new, or Kia Rio or Mercedes XL. Why? So they can drive around the corner (instead of walk) to the hottest club.

Some of this rubs off on related services. Burgeoning industries like auto shipping originated out of a real need for the services. They strive to excel in their industry through expanded services and marketing campaigns to soon become not just a service provider but a status symbol. When the symbol becomes generally recognizable, not only the major players, but the minor league as well benefit from unchecked consumerism.

There are measures in place to reduce the effect of heavy cargo carriers on the environment. But these measures are fighting against a rapidly increasing shipping industry, with continued growth in both potential and popularity. Innovative technologies are constantly emerging in the industry but there is no technology as yet to reverse the damage to the sea and the air caused by just one ro-ro ferry in finishing up just one job.

To the individual, the environmental damages to the environment are not apparent or significant enough to be of concern. Quite the contrary. Rampant consumerism detracts from the reality of pollution of the air and the sea lurking in the periphery of the heavy cargo shipping industry. Large cargo ships introduce invasive species into the environment that cost just the United States alone many billions of dollars annually. Bacteria, many strains of cholera, toxic algae, and destructive pests like the Zebra Mussel are disseminated throughout the environment by ballast water. One load of this water dumped by a freight carrier can spread in a matter of years enough vermin to bring the end to fisheries, agriculture, tourism and recreational industries.

That the future of the auto shipping industry seems bright, one must realize, is not merely because the business takes its natural course, but because its marketing is successful. Before we know it, governments may impose technical and performance restrictions and charges for use on roads, vehicle types, and mass services precisely because business, right now, seems good.

Visit JMN Logistics for more information on Vehicle Transport or follow JMN Logistics on their blog.

Global warming has been a catchphrase for several years now. If we experience a super hurricane or a prolonged drought we blame the global warming phenomenon. We know that global warming affects vulnerable life on earth, causes extinction of some living things, increases ocean waters and submerges islands into oblivion. These events haven’t been around during our ancestors’ time. The burning of fossil fuel particularly oil and coal drilled from the belly of the earth are to be blamed. When fossil fuels are burned, they release greenhouse gases- carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide- that blanket the earth. Heat from the sun that originally entered the earth can’t escape out from this blanket and causes global warming. Yet for all these knowledge we haven’t learned and taken action.

From a study, GreenHouse Gas Online revealed that 30 percent of carbon dioxide emissions come from vehicles and other modes of transportation. Buses, delivery trucks and semi-trailer trucks using diesel engines are responsible for one third of these carbon dioxide emissions.

During the 1930s, the trucking industry took over the rails as the main mode of transport of agricultural products from farms to cities. The beginning of the trucking system created a problem of fuel emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide dirtying the highways and roads with repugnant soot. This started the accumulation of man-made greenhouse gases. Further, GreenHouse gas reveals that for the past 100 years there had been a fast accumulation of greenhouse gases starting the process of global warming. Obviously, the need for transportation is to be blamed.

Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine started out using vegetable oil to fuel his experimental prototype, which is named after him. Yet when trucks were invented which run on diesel engines, the fuel that was popularly used was a refined derivative of gasoline the so-called petroleum diesel. But, he was hopeful that people with diesel engines will find a way to use vegetable fuel for his invention. During the 1920’s and 1930’s, several European countries utilized bio-diesels as an alternative fuel.

Utilizing bio-diesels have a lot of ecological advantages- ecologically and economically. The bio-diesels are derived from vegetable or animal oils. The vegetable oils come from rapeseed or soy or even oils from restaurants. Interestingly, these garbage oils used to fry your French fries can be collected, processed and used directly on your diesel engine. A nice way to a healthy environment, no soot nor greenhouse gas is produced. Bio-diesel isn’t only recyclable but is biodegradable too.

Using bio-diesel in trucks won’t emit carbon dioxide. A research in 2000 conducted by Wang and Lyons of the University of West Virginia compared the emissions of trucks on petroleum diesels and bio-diesels. The study showed that using bio-diesel in trucks has lower particulate matter emissions as well as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions as compared to trucks on petroleum diesel.

One gallon of gasoline utilized by a diesel engine releases 20 pounds of carbon dioxide. Now, if a trucking company uses 12,000 gallons a year of petrol diesel that would amount to 240,000 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide released in the earth’s atmosphere. Supposing all trucking companies world wide decide to use bio-diesels, we’ll expect a much lesser carbon dioxide emission and then slows the process of global warming. Isn’t that something?

We’ve all loathed trucks using petrol for its noise and fumes. Trucks on bio-diesel smell much better. It is a pleasant surprise to the nose and healthier for those with respiratory diseases. Moreover, bio-diesels don’t contain sulfur and dramatically reduce acid rain. Health wise, bio-diesels lack toxic and carcinogenic aromatic chemicals, which have a tendency to increase cancer cases over time. Because trucks on bio-diesel move less noisily, they are sweet on the ears too.

Some skeptics claim that bio-diesel doesn’t deliver in terms of mileage. But studies reveal that trucking companies utilizing bio-diesel doesn’t make them less efficient. There had been no significant increase or decrease in fuel mileage and they deliver food, furniture or people smoothly. Additionally, the natural cleaning property of bio-diesel adds lubricity to the fuel and protects the engines. This gives you minimal costs to maintain.

Several trucking companies are taking the lead to use bio-diesels exclusively. Convinced that bio-diesels are the way to a healthier environment, Serenity Movers’ fleet of trucks had been operating efficiently on bio-diesels. Their trucks work safely covering 55,000 miles a year delivering furniture.

Just think if all trucking companies run on bio-diesel, we’ll be able to avert the continuous process of global warming and prevent catastrophic weird weather conditions. Undoubtedly, we’ll be able to save the melting of the polar caps where some exotic species of plants and animals thrive and save them from extinction. We’ll be free from the dictates of oil rich countries and pay our farmers their due. We’ll save our money while we enjoy and nurture a productive and sustainable earth that we can endow to future generations.

So, if we want to see a healthier and renewable earth, let’s patronize trucking services that run on bio-diesels. Maybe, all shipping services may follow suit. It’s time we take action.

Lillian Marie Lauran writes on behalf of NY moving company Serenity Movers. Next time you move - make sure to find GREEN NY movers. Choose Serenity Movers New York.

A lot of people do not even realize that they could be saving money by buying used moving boxes. When it comes time to move to a new house or office it is already expensive so when there is a chance to save money that is always a good thing. Does it really matter if the boxes you pack with are new or used? If the box you buy is good quality it should not matter if it is used because you will just throw it away once your done with it anyway.

The companies that have used “moving boxes for sale usually have employees that make sure the boxes are of good quality before you purchase it. These used boxes will be as sturdy as new ones but will not cost you as much. When you are packing your important belongings you just want to be sure they do not get damaged. Many people assume new boxes will protect their belongings better.

When you pack correctly your belongings will not get damaged no matter what box you use. When you do not pack right the box will not keep your things safe even if it is new. It is always important that you pack with care. If you pack with care your things will arrive undamaged.

When packing your breakable belongings you should be sure to follow the basic rules for packing. Your fragile items should be wrapped in bubble wrap. Bubble wrap can be bought in rolls usually at the same company that you buy your boxes from. Many people use newspaper to wrap their breakable items but bubble wrap is safer.

Another great way to keep your fragile items from banging into each other and getting damaged is with packing peanuts. The same company that you buy your boxes and bubble wrap from will also have packing peanuts. Most companies that you can purchase moving supplies from will usually have all the packing essentials you need.

You should also be sure to label the boxes when packing so you can unpack quicker once you are moved. Moving is a very tiring ordeal and you should not add to your work load. You will not have to spend a lot of time looking through the boxes to locate things if you have labeled your boxes.

Some people spend extra money on new boxes that have a designated place to write what is in the box. I do not understand why this is important when you can just grab a marker and write any where you want to on a box. I prefer to buy the cheapest boxes I can as long as they are in good condition.

When you save money your whole moving experience can be less stressful. We all worry over enough things when we have to move so why should we add to our stress by paying more for new boxes? Everyone likes to save money so why not make yourself happy by buying used boxes and saving money?

Need boxes for moving? Why not try using recycled boxes, or even used shipping boxes! They’re much cheaper, and much more environmentally friendly too.

By Amy Nutt

Congratulations! You have decided to take the plunge and move from one place to another. It might be for financial reasons or it might be for familial reasons, but the fact of the matter is that you are reading this article because you have made that decision. You are now ready to go forward, but there is still the logistical matter of actually packing everything and moving it to another location to deal with. If this is something that worries you, it is always worthwhile to consider ways that your moving can be gentler on the environment. It might not decrease the worry about moving, but it will certainly make you feel better in other ways.

Recycled Boxes

One of the best ways in which you can make your move more environmentally friendly would be to use recycled boxes. Use recycled boxes in all of your packing endeavours, taking with them all of the different things that you were going to move anyway. This is an idea that does not occur to a lot of people, but it is also one that is very easy to institute. It is a good example of an action that is environmentally friendly while at the same time just being a very easy thing to do.

A lot of people that are in a position to do this actually shy away from doing it because they feel that recycled boxes would not really change anything. If you are thinking this right now, go and take a look at all of the things that you have to pack. Then, take a look at the size of the recycled boxes. Doing some mental math, come up with the number of recycled boxes you would need in order to support the move. Then, imagine everyone else that moves doing the same thing. You’ll realize right away that actions like these would add up to something immense if everyone did them. Therefore, you should use recycled boxes when you are moving.

No Downside

Truth be told, it is hard to understand why someone would not want to use recycled boxes in their move. The fact of the matter is that there is no actual downside to moving with recycled boxes at the current moment in time. In fact, if you don’t have any boxes to use (which most people do not when they initially think about moving), you are actually not doing anything out of the ordinary by moving with recycled boxes. Instead of going to get normal boxes, you go to a different place and get recycled ones. Aside from that, everything else is exactly the same. There is no downside in exchange for the amazing upside of helping the environment out in a significant way.

Conclusion

The fact of the matter is that sometimes doing things to help the environment can be so ridiculously easy. This is one of those cases. If you have children, you certainly care about the state the world will be in when they are adults. Help take baby steps in the right direction today by using recycled boxes when you move.

Moving from one home to another can seem overwhelming. There are so many things to consider, from shutting down one set of utilities and getting started with the next, painting, rearranging, trying to get adjusted to a new neighborhood and if you have children, getting them settled into their new school. All of this is time consuming and stressful. Then comes moving day and you may be completely undone by the huge number of boxes stacked in every room of your new home.

You may be hesitant to wade into the ocean of boxes because you fear you will never be able to finish unpacking and finding a good place for everything. The last thing you may be thinking about is what to do with all of those boxes once you have emptied them, but they will have to go somewhere. So , just what are you going to do with all of those empty boxes?

Recycling Works

Of course, you could simply throw all of those boxes away, but that is not your best solution, First of all, that simply moves the problem from one place to another. Now instead of the boxes being stacked in your rooms, they are piled up outside, waiting for garbage day. Second, the number of plastic garbage bags you will need to hold all of those boxes is itself detrimental to the environment.

A better solution is to recycle the boxes. This is easier on you and helps the environment. Boxes can be easily flattened by cutting the tape at each end. Then you simply have to stack them into piles of similar sizes and bind them together. They take up very little room like this to be stored until your community picks up recyclables. If the area you are moving into does not have regular recyclables pick ups, call the town hall. They may schedule a pick up for you or they can suggest a near by facility where you can drop them off.

New Home, New Habits

Many people see moving into a new home as starting with a fresh page. Everything is new and different and it is the perfect time to develop new habits before you get set in your ways. Make sure that the new routines you establish are beneficial to your family and the world around you.

Why not make recycling a regular part of this new lifestyle from the outset. Recycling is an easy habit to maintain once you get started. Teach yourself and your family the environmentally responsible way to live from the first days in your new home, when there are many changes happening. Don’t wait until you have gotten settled in because by then you may have already established a routine and separating your recyclables will seem like an additional chore. Done from the beginning, it will soon become a normal part of your daily life. A good way to break into this habit is to start from the very first day in your new home by recycling your boxes after moving.

We provide environmentally friendly services to customers through recycling moving boxes and shipping boxes. Our offers include moving, shipping and packing supply. Find out more about us in this used moving boxes video.