Eco-Friendly Packing Options in Los Angeles: How I Help My Clients Move Greener Without Losing Their Minds

If you live in Los Angeles, you already know: people here actually care about what happens to the planet. We recycle, we bring our own bags, we argue over which oat milk is the most sustainable.

But then moving day shows up… and suddenly there are mountains of cardboard, plastic wrap everywhere, piles of bubble wrap, and trash bags full of “I’ll deal with this later.”

I’ve seen that scene hundreds of times. It’s exactly why I started pushing eco-friendly packing options with my clients here in LA—not as some abstract “green initiative,” but as real, practical choices that still protect your stuff and actually make the move easier.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through what works, what doesn’t, what actually saves money, and how we at United Prime Van Lines can set it all up so you don’t spend your final week in LA buried under boxes and guilt.

1. The Big Debate: Reusable Crates vs. Cardboard Boxes

Let’s start with the biggest source of moving waste: the boxes.

The Winner for Local LA Moves: Reusable Plastic Crates

If you are moving locally (e.g., from an apartment in Hollywood to a condo in Woodland Hills), reusable crates are a game changer. Local companies will drop off sturdy, stackable plastic bins at your door and pick them up from your new place when you are done.

• Why they are great: They require zero packing tape. They are crush-proof, water-resistant, and have built-in handles.
• The Eco-Benefit: No cardboard to break down and shove into your building's recycling bin.

The Winner for Long-Distance: Recycled Cardboard

If you are moving out of state, crate rentals aren't an option.

• Get Free Boxes: Check the Buy Nothing Los Angeles Facebook groups, or ask local liquor stores and grocery stores for their heavy-duty boxes.
• Buy Sustainable: If you must buy, look for boxes certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) or made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials.

2. Ditching the Bubble Wrap (What Actually Works)

Standing over a giant trash bag full of popped bubble wrap and plastic air pillows is the worst part of unpacking. Here is how to avoid it.

Use Your Own Stuff First

When I walk into a client’s home, I see "built-in packing material" everywhere.

• Towels, sheets, and sweatshirts are fantastic for wrapping framed pictures, electronics, and vases.
• Kitchen Hack: Pack your plates and bowls by placing a dish towel or T-shirt between every few dishes. You are packing two things at once with zero extra waste.

Eco-Friendly Padding Alternatives

If you run out of towels, skip the plastic bubble wrap and try these:

• Corrugated Packing Paper (GreenWrap/Geami): This honeycomb-cut paper locks together and provides incredible shock absorption for fragile kitchenware.
• Unprinted Newsprint: 100% recyclable and perfect for filling empty spaces in boxes so things don't shift.
• Biodegradable Peanuts: Made from cornstarch, these dissolve in water and won't sit in a landfill for a thousand years.

Paper Tape Over Plastic Tape

Traditional packing tape is plastic and ruins the recyclability of cardboard. Switch to water-activated paper tape (the kind Amazon uses). It creates a stronger bond and can be recycled right on the box.

3. Decluttering Responsibly (The LA Way)

The greenest box is the one you don't have to pack. But don't just dump your unwanted items in the alley the night before your move.

• Donate: Local charities like Habitat for Humanity ReStore or Out of the Closet will often pick up large furniture for free if you schedule in advance.
• Sell: Use OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace to keep mid-range furniture in the local circular economy.
• Food Waste: Donate unopened, non-perishable pantry items to a local food bank rather than throwing them out.

4. How We Keep It Green at United Prime Van Lines

Eco-friendly moving often sounds like "extra work" for you. My job is to flip that—to make it easier.

Here is how we integrate sustainability into your move:

• Reusable Moving Blankets: We wrap your sofas, tables, and dressers in thick, reusable moving pads. We only use plastic stretch wrap when absolutely necessary (like on light-colored fabrics or rainy days), drastically cutting down on single-use plastics.
• Efficient LA Routing: We plan our driving routes to avoid sitting idle in 405 traffic, cutting down on fuel consumption and emissions.
• Eco-Priority Packing: If you hire us for Full-Service Packing, just let us know your eco-priorities. We will minimize plastic, prioritize paper padding, and pack densely so we aren't shipping empty air.

The Verdict: Progress, Not Perfection

You don’t have to be perfect for your move to be meaningfully greener. If all we do is cut your plastic usage in half and donate what you don’t need instead of shipping it, you’ve already done more than most.

If you’re in Los Angeles and want a move that actually reflects the way you try to live—more conscious, less wasteful, but still sane and practical—my team at United Prime Van Lines is happy to build that plan with you.