Emissions Drivers: What Matters Most During an Overseas Move

1) Transport mode: sea freight vs. air freight

For overseas household goods, sea freight is generally far less carbon-intensive than air freight (per tonne-kilometre). Even without calculating your exact shipment footprint, the strategic takeaway is simple: avoid air freight for household goods whenever time allows. You can calculate what shipping your household would cost through our shipping cost calculator. Air transport is a high-emissions segment of transport overall; the IEA reports that in 2023 aviation accounted for 2.5% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions (around 950 Mt CO₂).

Sea freight isn’t impact-free, but it is often the lower-emissions option for moving belongings long distances. UNCTAD notes that international shipping carries over 80% of world merchandise trade by volume and is responsible for nearly 3% of all global GHG emissions. These numbers underline a key point: the best outcome is not “perfect shipping,” but shipping less, and shipping smarter. 

And when it comes to transportation, it should be clear that there currently aren’t any methods available that are completely emission free, except for walking. So looking for the least carbon-intensive option could be a great way to at least have a smaller impact on the environment. 

2) Shipment volume: the hidden lever most movers overlook

From an emissions standpoint, the size and weight of what you move can matter as much as the route. Every extra box typically adds:

• more packaging material,

• more handling,

• more space in a container (or an additional pallet),

• more trucking distance for pick-up and delivery,

• and often more storage time.

If you want the single highest-impact sustainability move: reduce volume before you book. As reducing volume means moving less items, which in turn means lowering the load on the shipping method you choose. 

3) Road transport and “last mile” logistics

Even in an overseas move, road transport is usually involved at both ends. The IPCC finds 70% of direct transport emissions come from road vehicles. That makes consolidation, efficient routing, and avoiding repeat pickups/deliveries meaningful. However, choosing for companies that use electric trucks will already have less of an impact. Do some research into the companies you’re choosing and see what sustainable transportation methods they use. 

4) Packaging and disposal

International moves tend to create waste quickly: cardboard, shrink wrap, bubble wrap, foam, tape, and protective fillers. Multiply that across millions of relocations globally, and the waste challenge becomes part of a bigger picture: the World Bank estimates at least 33% of global waste is mismanaged through open dumping or burning. Choosing recyclable materials and planning reuse reduces the chance that your move contributes to mismanaged waste streams.

The Most Effective Ways to Relocate Sustainably (Without Sacrificing Reliability)

Sustainable relocation is not about one “green” label; it’s about a sequence of decisions that reduce impact while protecting your belongings and timelines. Choose sea freight when possible, and plan early to avoid “emergency air”

If your timeline is flexible, sea freight is usually the best environmental choice for overseas shipments. The sustainability strategy here is mainly planning:

• Lock in dates earlier,

• Build buffer time for customs,

• And avoid last-minute air shipments for essentials.

A practical approach is to split items into “ship” vs. “carry” vs. “buy-after” categories, keeping air freight out of the plan entirely unless absolutely unavoidable.

Ship less: right-size your move with a circular mindset

Before you request quotes, reduce your inventory intentionally. The goal isn’t minimalism for its own sake; it’s avoiding shipping items that are cheap to replace, hard to recycle, or likely to be discarded after arrival.

A good decision rule: keep and ship what is durable, hard to replace sustainably, or truly valuable, and avoid moving low-cost, bulky items (especially flat-pack furniture that often doesn’t survive multiple assemblies).

Consolidate shipments and avoid partial loads where feasible

Consolidation can reduce redundant trips and space waste. In practice, this often means choosing between:

• A dedicated container (higher cost, simpler timeline), or

• Shared container/groupage (often slower but potentially more efficient per household).

The sustainable choice depends on route, timelines, and the logistics network, but the principle is consistent: fewer separate movements are better than many.

Prioritize reusable and recyclable packing systems

Many movers rely on single-use plastics because they are cheap and protective. You can still protect your items while reducing waste by requesting:

• sturdy, reusable crates for fragile goods (when available) and sometimes provided by the moving company,

• recyclable paper-based cushioning where practical,

• minimal void fill,

• and/or a plan to take packing materials back (or to provide guidance for proper recycling).

This is particularly important because global waste volumes are rising significantly over time, making waste prevention more valuable than “cleanup later.” Also, when using moving crates, look into the possibility of buying them, as expats tend to relocate more often, having these crates at hand is both sustainable and more efficient.

Select movers with sustainability practices that are operational, not just marketing

“Sustainable shipping practices” are strongest when they show up in operations. Look for signals like:

• shipment consolidation options,

• route planning and modern fleets for road legs,

• clear inventory management that prevents rework and repeat deliveries,

• packaging reduction programs,

• and transparent documentation that avoids delays (since delays often mean more storage and additional handling).

Some movers may also provide emissions reporting or carbon-accounting support for corporate relocations. Even when offsets are offered, treat them as a last step, reduce first, then offset if you choose.

How Relocately Supports a More Sustainable International Relocation

Sustainability improves when people can compare options clearly. Relocately helps by enabling you to compare international movers and relocation options, which makes it easier to choose a plan that reduces waste and avoids unnecessary emissions. Drivers like rushed transport, multiple shipments, or oversized loads.

In a sustainable decision process, comparison matters because it helps you:

• balance timeline vs. transport mode (e.g., planning for sea rather than air),

• compare shipment types (full container vs. shared options),

• and select movers whose service model fits your “ship less, ship smarter” plan.

When you can see multiple quotes and approaches side-by-side, you are more likely to choose the option that minimizes rework, avoids duplicate logistics steps, and supports better packing and routing decisions.