• Use the smallest box that fits your needs to save packing materials and shipping costs.
• Buy local and save both $ and resources.
• Rent moving crates as an alternative to boxes: A number of moving companies lease out reusable, crushproof and stackable plastic moving crates.

Reuse & Recycle

• Reuse boxes shipping materials. If you can't remove old tape or labels from a box, turn it inside out.
• Reuse bubble wrap, packing peanuts, tissue paper, crumbled newspaper & magazine pages.
• Wrap gifts in newspaper comics pages for color and fun.
• Shred damaged or over-used wrapping paper to create colorful packing material.
• Return unwanted packing peanuts to one of over 1500 locations nationwide.  Call the Plastic Loosefill Council's Peanut Hotline at 1-800-828-2214 for the names of local businesses that accept packing peanuts.

If You Can't Reuse or Recycle

• Buy boxes made from recycled paper or fibers.
• Resist using plastic packaging, including bubblewrap and styrofoam.
• Use biodegradable packing peanuts, which dissolve when exposed to water and can be composted or reused.
• Use air-popped popcorn for packing material.