Moving can be quite a hard process. It takes up a lot of time, energy, and money, and if something goes wrong, it can take even more time, money, and energy. There are a few reasons why something goes wrong in the process of moving, and not using the proper packing materials is certainly one of the most common. Thankfully, in the twenty-first century, moving technology has improved dramatically. Nowadays there are a lot of good packing materials at a reasonable price. So, what are the best packing materials in 2020? How can you get them, and how exactly do they help you with moving? Those are the questions we are going to answer in this article, and hopefully, help you choose what is right for you. Let’s begin!

There are some questions you need to ask yourself before you buy packing materials

When you’re making your moving list, there are some questions you need to ask yourself before you buy packing materials for your move. Not all packing materials are equal, and even if some of them are more expensive than others, that doesn’t mean that they are better. Those questions will be the criteria for us when choosing the best packing materials in 2020. So, what are those questions, and why are they important to answer?

Do you need those materials?

You know what they say – better safe than sorry. While those wise words are true, hoarding a bunch of items just for the sake of it is a big no-no. This is why you need to make your moving list rationally and include the things you need for your moving endeavor. So, packing materials should be cost-effective and useful for them to get on our list.

Are those materials green?

Packing materials of today need to be eco-friendly. What does that mean? That simply means that those materials should be reusable and biodegradable. And what does that mean? For example, when choosing between boxes and plastic bins you need to ask yourself what do you expect from your container. If you move often, and if you need to store something for a long time in a container, it is better to use plastic bins. Plastic bins are simply more sturdy and they are far more reusable than boxes. However, boxes are cheaper and more biodegradable than plastic bins. Plastic is pretty dangerous for the environment, and if you don’t plan to move often, chances are that you’ll be tempted to throw it away. So, in this case, it is wiser to buy boxes instead of plastic bins, although plastic bins are better for relocation.

Best packing materials in 2020

Now when we got our criteria out of the way, it is time to look at the best packing materials in 2020. Those packing materials need to be cheap, useful, and eco-friendly, which means that even you can help the environment by using your old packing supplies. Here is what we have chosen.

1. Biodegradable packaging peanuts

Some cities and states in the US, and some countries, mainly in Europe, have banned the use of styrofoam. Styrofoam is a light and airy material that is used for many things. Packing is one of those uses. New York, for example, is one of the first cities in the US to ban the use of styrofoam. This is why you need to find the right moving company in NYC that is aware of this fact. Styrofoam helps to prevent movement and it acts as a cushion against shocks. It is a very useful material indeed. However, it not biodegradable nor easily recyclable, and that can be a problem for the environment. For those reasons, styrofoam usually ends up in waterways. There it can have adverse effects on marine life. This is why an alternative to styrofoam has been introduced into the market. This alternative is biodegradable packaging peanuts.

There are three advantages of biodegradable packaging peanuts over the styrofoam. First, they are, as their name says – biodegradable. That means that even if they end up in waterways or underground, they will not be such a danger to marine life. Second, they are more economically recyclable than styrofoam. And third, they are cheaper than styrofoam. Its cost means that you can save money if you are moving as a student.

2. Cornstarch packaging

Another great alternative to the usual packing materials are materials made from cornstarch. Cornstarch is derived from the maize plant or corn. It has plastic-like properties and that means that it can be used instead of plastic in most cases. Sure, cornstarch packaging is more environmentally friendly than petroleum-based plastic, but it has its fair share of problems. Since it is usually derived from the grains of corn, it competes with the food supply, which in turn can raise the price of our dietary products.

3. Mushroom packaging

Yet another alternative to packaging materials is packaging made from agricultural waste. This has its advantages over cornstarch packaging. It does not compete for land with food for animals and humans. Mushroom packaging is agricultural waste which has been cleaned, grounded, and fused with a matrix of mushroom roots, otherwise known as mycelium.

4. Recycled plastic bins

Did you know that plastic bags were invented as an eco-friendly alternative to other kinds of bags? They are cheap to manufacture, and they can be used multiple times. They are quite sturdy which means that they are reusable. However, plastic bags are not the cause of pollution, human nature is. When we see that something is cheap and abundant, we tend to buy those products irrationally. This, combined with low levels of ecological literacy is why we have floating islands of plastic bags in our oceans.

Plastic is not necessarily bad if used correctly. Thankfully today there are kinds of plastics that can be recycled easily, and by using recycled plastic you are supporting the recycling industry. Plastic simply has some properties that make it better than most of the alternatives. So, our pick is recycled plastic bins which are sturdy and reusable.