Planning an eco-friendly office move is no small feat. It takes months of planning, a long list of logistics, and somehow ensuring that your company’s daily operations aren’t negatively affected. The process can seem daunting…or even impossible.
Now, here’s the good news: carrying out a sustainable business relocation is easier than you might think. There are a few steps to follow, and the process starts by creating a cohesive checklist.
Create an Organized Moving Checklist
More and more, Chicago Area residents and businesses are implementing zero-waste moving checklists when it’s time to move to a new home or office. And that’s great! You’re excited about settling into your company’s new digs. You might as well help out the Earth and reinforce your business’s green values by having an eco-friendly office move.
Here’s a quick checklist to start you on the path toward a successful and low-waste relocation:
- Outline a calendar with key dates. This includes when desks and cubicles need to be disassembled and when your employees will need to pack up their work areas.
- Choose one person from each of your company’s departments to be in charge of their team’s packing timeline. Since IT equipment like servers, computers, and printers can be delicate, it might be best to let your tech department handle packing those items for the entire company.
- Obtain at least three estimates from eco-conscious office moving companies in Chicago. Try to do this several months in advance so you have time to review their services and pick the right one.
- Write down all of the utilities (i.e., electricity, gas, water, etc.) you’ll need to change over to your new address. Don’t forget to update the USPS, your corporate credit cards, and delivery companies like FedEx and UPS, too!
- Schedule time at your new location to reassemble cubicles and desks before daily operations can get back to normal.
The planning process for the most successful eco-friendly office moves starts at least four to six months in advance. However, if your company is in a time crunch, you can likely expedite the process by enlisting the help of more team members who will be happy to help out by taking some tasks off of your plate. One of the main to-dos in every move is to find the best packing and moving supplies.
Find Environmentally-Friendly Office Packing Supplies
Residents and businesses across Chicagoland are quickly learning that renting reusable moving crates can make your move easier. These sturdy plastic bins help streamline your office relocation in a number of ways:
- They’re stronger than cardboard and provide better protection for office equipment
- They’re sealable and water-resistant
- They’ll arrive at your office clean, sanitized, and ready for you to pack up
- You can easily nest them in each employee’s area without taking up too much room
- They stack and reduce the square footage they take up when packed
- The wheeled steel dollies make it easy to move them around
- You can choose a prepackaged sustainable moving kit or choose individual items like file hangers or recyclable packing paper
- Rental moving bin providers usually deliver to your old address before your move and pick up the bins at your new location after you’ve unpacked them
Here’s another major benefit: these reusable plastic bins can save money on your eco-friendly office move. Not only will there be less wasteful cardboard to break down and throw away, but you’ll also have more cash in the till so you can invest back into the business or treat your employees to a nice lunch on their first day in the new office.
Partner With Eco-Conscious Business Moving Services
You already know that one of the best practices for moving to a new office is to get at least three estimates from local moving companies. In addition to their availability for your preferred moving dates and their overall price, make sure you’re working with eco-conscious movers who eagerly support your green initiatives.
Not all business moving services in Chicago are known for being environmentally friendly. This means it might take some time to find the right movers to work with. Start by asking them about their own sustainability efforts. Maybe they have low-emission auxiliary vehicles, engage in a recycling program at their own facility, or hold company-wide neighborhood cleanup events.
The more excited the customer service team is about their green corporate moving solutions and helping out with your eco-friendly office move, the more confident you’ll be that you’re partnering with legitimate moving professionals who take pride in their work—and in being your go-to team for an eco-conscious commercial move.
We’re Here to Help With Your Eco-Friendly Office Move
We know that moving to a new office is a huge undertaking, especially when you’re trying to keep as low a carbon footprint as possible. We’ve got the expertise and environmentally friendly office packing supplies you need. We even offer delivery and pickup service so you don’t have to waste valuable time running around Chicago looking for moving materials.
Contact us today to learn more about our prepackaged sustainable moving kits or for a custom estimate that will help you have a smooth and eco-friendly office move!