Moving boxes explained: Renting plastic moving Boxes vs Cardboard Boxes

Kristie
Sep 14
7 min read

Updated: Oct 16

Moving house can be one of the most stressful experiences in life. Packing up your belongings, organising everything, and ensuring that nothing gets damaged can feel overwhelming. However, what if we told you that there was a solution that could make your move easier and more sustainable?

In this post, we will explore the types of moving boxes available. Traditionally people have used cardboard boxes to move house, however there is an alternative option to when it comes to packing up your belongings. Reusable plastic moving boxes are gaining popularity as both a sustainable and time saving substitute to the cardboard box.

So, let’s start by talking through some scenarios about cardboard boxes and hiring moving boxes…

Above: Cardboard boxes of varying sizes and Plastic moving boxes (Eco Boxes)

The traditional cardboard moving box – a story of what really happens

Imagine this, you need to move house, and you need to pack up all your belongings before your removalists come. You search local Facebook groups for second hand moving boxes; you might go pick them up then go to the local shops or drive to your local hardware store and buy a whole bunch of boxes there and take them home.

When you get home, before you can pack anything into your cardboard boxes you need to assemble them with tape (hope you have that too or else it’s another trip). Once you have assembled the boxes, they are now ready to use, you pack your belongings in, then seal each individual box with tape. You then move them around – but watch out they are slippery and hard to pick up when full!

Moving day comes, if it’s a typical Melbourne day it’s raining, and you might get soggy boxes. Your removalists stack them into the truck. But there is a problem. They don’t stack properly as you have a few different sizes in there. And worst of all, some of them haven’t been filled all the way to the top so when they are stacked the weight of them leads to some structural integrity issues… dare I say it… crumpling. Oh no!

The days or weeks after moving day, you unpack your boxes and end up with a pile of used cardboard boxes which don’t fit into the recycling bin (which gets emptied every 2 weeks) so they hang around like a bad smell. You could put them up on Facebook groups for someone to collect but who wants strangers coming to your house for a few boxes really. So, you wait and wait and slowly dispose of them over a period of a month or two, shoving them into your recycling bin around your regular recycling and hoping they don’t get stuck when the garbage truck comes around.

Reusable plastic moving boxes – a story of the future of moving

Another scenario. You heard about reusable plastic moving boxes and thought you should try them for your move.

You go online and look for a reputable local company. We may be biased but we recommend Eco Boxes for Hire of course. You rent moving boxes, choose your delivery date, number of boxes, length of hire and place your order. Surprisingly it’s cheaper or a similar price to rent moving boxes than to purchase cardboard boxes and the best thing is you don’t even have to leave your house to do it.

Your boxes arrive, delivered by professional removalists. They are sturdy, stackable and the best part is that they are ready to use. There is no need to assemble them with tape.

You pack your belongings in and close each box with the interlocking lids (no tape!). It doesn’t matter if the box is full to the top or not, they are strong and stack up on top of each other. It’s easy to lift each box with the ergonomic handles. As a bonus, you hired a dolly for the boxes so you can easily wheel them around your house and put some brakes on if required. What a dream!

Moving day comes, it’s a typical Melbourne day and it’s raining but it’s ok, your belongings are protected and dry as the Eco Boxes are weather resistant. The trusty removalists (we recommend Moving Men Removals of course), pick up the boxes easily, stack them in the truck efficiently as they are all the same size and there is no crumpling as they are strong.

The days after moving day you unpack your boxes and stack them into each other. You are motivated to unpack as you booked the boxes for 2 (or 3) weeks before they are due to be picked up. You clean off any chalk pen used to label the boxes and they are ready to be returned.

The professional removalists come and collect all the Eco Boxes and they are gone. No moving boxes to dispose of. It feels as if it’s a dream come true how easy it has been and how much time you saved by renting moving boxes. This could be your reality!

The environmental impact of moving

Every year, millions of people move to new homes. This process generates a significant amount of waste, primarily from cardboard boxes. Traditional cardboard boxes are often used once or twice and then discarded, contributing to landfill overflow.

By choosing reusable boxes, you can help reduce this waste. Reusable moving boxes are designed to be used multiple times, which means fewer trees are cut down and less energy is consumed in the production of new boxes. Plastic moving boxes are made from durable, recyclable plastics and can be used for over 10 years, which results in a more eco friendly and sustainable move.

What are reusable moving boxes?

Reusable boxes are sturdy containers made from durable materials like plastic. They are designed to be robust and can be used repeatedly. Eco Boxes are made from 100% recyclable plastic and can last over 10 years. If you think about it, that could be up to 200 house moves, or more!

They are suitable for packing everything from clothes to kitchenware and can be used with packing materials like bubble wrap for fragile items. Plastic moving boxes are tough and can handle a bump here and there and provide more protection for your belongings.

To rent moving boxes it’s simple.

Find a local reputable local company. We recommend Eco Boxes for Hire.
Determine your needs. Select the number of boxes you require and the length of hire and place your order.
Box Delivery. Your boxes will be delivered by professional removalists.
Pack your boxes. Use packing materials for fragile items where required.
Move house. Use a reputable removalist to move your house. We recommend Moving Men Removals.
Unpack your boxes.
Box collection. When you are done your boxes will be collected and you won’t have any cardboard boxes left over to dispose of.

The direct comparison: Rent moving boxes vs cardboard boxes

What are the benefits of renting moving boxes? If you are looking for a side by side comparison of the types of moving boxes look no further! We have complied a table with a direct comparison of plastic moving boxes and cardboard boxes for your benefit.

	Cardboard Boxes	Plastic Moving Boxes
Convenience	Must drive to purchase, and dispose of when done	Delivered to door and collected when done
Assembly and use	Need to assemble with tape, and close with tape	Ready to use, comes assembled with interlocking lid to close
Materials	Made from cardboard	Made from 100% recyclable plastic
Sustainability	Must be disposed of after 2-3 moves. Short life cycle.	Each box lasts over 10+ years. Sustainable and eco friendly.
Stackability	Crumples if not packed to the top	Eco Boxes stack into each other when not used, and on top of each other when used even if not filled to the top
Strong and durable	Cannot support a lot of weight, only as strong as the tape at the bottom	Each box comfortable holds up to 30kg
Handling	Hard to grip	Ergonomic handles
Sizing	Inconsistent sizing. Removalists may not be happy.	Same size – easy to stack in truck and more efficient for removalists.
Perfect for Melbourne weather	Soggy when wet	Weather resistant

Cost analysis: Is it cheaper to rent moving boxes or to buy cardboard boxes?

Have you wondered whether it’s cheaper to rent moving boxes vs cardboard boxes?

We’ve crunched some numbers for you, so you don’t have to. We have based our numbers on a typical Melbourne inner city 2 bedroom house or apartment, using approximately 30 boxes for a 2 week period.

	Cardboard Boxes	Plastic Moving Boxes
Cost analysis	30 cardboard boxes from a large hardware store. Drive to hardware store to purchase boxes. Each cardboard box costs $5.74. Packing tape to seal boxes $4.50 Packing paper and bubble wrap – estimate $30. Disposal of large amount of cardboard boxes. Merri-bek charge $50 per cubic metred	30 boxes rented from Eco Boxes for Hire for 2 weeks. Free delivery to your door within Brunswick. Small delivery charge within 10km. Each Eco Box costs $5 for 2 weeks hire. Packing paper and bubble wrap – estimate $30. Collection of Eco Boxes.
Final cost	Total cost: $256.70	Total cost: $180

The Future of Moving

As more people become aware of the environmental impact of their choices, the demand for reusable boxes is likely to grow.

Whilst there will always be circumstances where cardboard boxes must be used (long term storage, longer distance moves), in the future we hope to see more widespread use of reusable moving boxes, leading to a significant reduction in waste associated with moving.

Choosing reusable boxes for your next move is a smart decision. Not only do they offer durability and convenience, but they also help protect the environment.

By making this simple switch, you can make your moving experience smoother while contributing to a more sustainable future. Renting moving boxes saves you money, save you time and is a greener choice.

So, as you plan your next move, consider the benefits of reusable boxes. You may find that they make the process easier, more organised, and environmentally friendly.

Above: Strong, stackable and eco friendly reusable moving boxes available for rent from Eco Boxes from Hire and Moving Men Removals