When you are about to pack anything that is even remotely fragile, your first thought might be to smother the item in bubble wrap. But, are there ways to avoid the bubble wrap and pack more sustainably? There surely are ways to use less plastic and still protect your fragile items.

How to pack and protect your delicate items for a move and not use bubble wrap? Here are alternative (and budget) ways to do so.

Use Towels or Blankets

These pieces of fabric can provide some solid padding. Besides that, using blankets or towels you already own will help you save up on buying packing materials. One thing you should remember, though, is that the packed items will weigh more than with bubble wrap.

Socks

As weird as it may sound, socks can offer great protection for glasses and other fragile figurines inside the box. Also, it’s a smart way to refrain from packing peanuts and bubble wrap.

Old Newspapers

If you need packing material that fills up the space, newspapers will do a great job at that. If you find some old newspapers and magazines while decluttering, you can use them to secure the items inside your cardboard or plastic boxes.

When is Bubble Wrap Necessary?

In some cases, you might not be able to avoid bubble wrap, especially for very fragile or expensive items that are difficult to protect with DIY options at hand. In those cases, make sure to be smart with buying it, or even try to get it for free. You can ask friends, family or neighbors, or even contact some stores and check if they have some bubble wrap they don’t need (because it is easily thrown away). We wish you the best of luck with your relocation.