Our Eco Pledge For Brighton And Sussex
- We prioritise Esso Ethos fuel where available and plan routes to cut idling and detours.
- We run paperless by default for quotes, bookings and invoices, printing only on request.
- We use reusable protection including blankets, floor runners, corner guards and crates to reduce single-use materials.
- We keep good boxes in circulation with a simple take back scheme and recycle anything past its best.
- We minimise mileage by right sizing vehicles, grouping routes and avoiding empty runs.
- We support reuse with same day donation drops to local charities and reuse centres when items qualify.
- We reduce handling by loading directly into storage and delivering once when keys do not align.
- We keep sites tidy, remove packaging where agreed and return materials for reuse or recycling.
- We will transition to electric vans as soon as it is economically and operationally viable for Brighton and Sussex routes.
- We review results regularly, train our team and share simple progress updates so the pledge keeps improving.
ESV Removals Ltd & Peter Hawes
Why Greener Removals Matter Here
Moving day can create unnecessary waste and mileage if it isn’t planned well. On a coastal, windy patch beside protected downland, small choices add up across the year, so we focus on practical changes that reduce impact without compromising care.
For us, eco removals in Brighton and Sussex aren’t a USP or a bolt-on service, they’re just the way we plan routes, pack, store and reuse materials on every job.
Who Our Eco Removals In Brighton And Sussex Work Best For
Our eco-friendly removals work well for most Brighton and Sussex moves. That includes Brighton house removals for families upsizing or downsizing, Hove flat moves with permit zones, and man and van jobs where you just need one room cleared. We also help students moving to and from the University of Sussex and University of Brighton who want a greener way to move between term time addresses.
Whether it is a full Brighton removals service with packing, or a smaller eco-minded Brighton man and van job along the Sussex coast, we apply the same planning, protection and lower waste approach.
Fuel Choices We Make: Lower-Impact Fuel and Smarter Driving
Where possible, we fuel with Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel. Esso states it contains a minimum of 25% renewable content (HVO) and delivers 15% lower life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared with regular Esso Synergy diesel. - Esso
Where possible we prioritise Esso Ethos fuel alternatives for our diesel vehicles, combine that with steady driving, and plan routes to cut idling and detours.
Gov.uk figures show that in 2023 domestic transport accounted for around 29 per cent of all territorial UK greenhouse gas emissions, most of it from road vehicles, so every mile we save on your move genuinely matters.
Paperless By Default: Faster For You, Less Waste For Everyone
Quotes, bookings and invoices are digital unless you ask otherwise. You get clearer records and we remove the printing and postage footprint from your move.
Local Pro Tip: Intuit Quickbooks
For our Brighton removals work, Intuit QuickBooks has been a quiet game changer. Instead of printing quotes and invoices, we create and send everything digitally from the van or the office, so customers get clear, itemised paperwork in their inbox within minutes. That fits perfectly with our paperless by default eco push and means no stacks of paper, no lost receipts and less clutter for you when you are already juggling moving paperwork. Because all our Brighton and Sussex removals jobs are logged in one place, it is also easier for us to spot repeat customers, keep track of what we did on past moves and maintain accurate records for insurance and tax without extra admin. In simple terms, QuickBooks helps us stay organised, cut waste and keep your removals paperwork as neat and tidy as the move itself.
Reusable Protection and Smarter Packing: Durable Kit, Less Single-Use
We use heavy-duty blankets, reusable floor runners, corner guards and crates wherever possible. When wrap or tape is required, better stacking and strapping means we use less and reuse more.
Box Reuse and Our Promise: Keep Good Boxes In Circulation
Buy boxes from us and return any clean, usable ones after your move so we can recirculate them locally. We’ll sort anything past its best for recycling.
To plan your next move the eco minded way, visit our homepage at eastsussexvan.com and tell us where you are moving from and to.
Fewer Trips Through Better Planning: The Cleanest Mile Is The One We Don’t Drive
We right-size the vehicle, survey access in advance and load in an order that completes the job in as few runs as possible. On tight streets we may stage a larger vehicle nearby and shuttle with a smaller van to avoid loops.
Donation and Reuse Options: Keep Good Items Out Of Landfill
If you no longer need an item, we can point you to local charities and reuse centres and schedule a same-day drop-off or collection. For upholstered furniture, keep the original fire-safety label so charities can accept it.
Meeting the UK climate challenge found that one of the most effective resource efficiency strategies for cutting greenhouse gas emissions is simply to reuse products. - wrap.ngo
Storage Done Sensibly: Move Once, Store Once
When keys don’t align, we place items straight into storage and redeliver when you’re ready, so each item is handled fewer times and travels fewer miles.
Eco Removals Case Study | Brighton To Hove
A recent eco removals job took us from a top floor flat near Preston Park in Brighton to a terraced house in Hove. Parking was tight at both ends, so we arranged permits, planned the route to avoid busy seafront traffic and loaded the Luton in an order that meant we could unload rooms in one pass at the new property.
Because the family were decorating, some furniture needed short term storage. We used our Big Yellow Self Storage Brighton partner unit for a few weeks, loading items once and then delivering them back when the rooms were ready. That meant fewer trips, fewer miles and less chance of damage or re handling. We also filled up with Esso Ethos fuel on the way out of Brighton and planned a steady route to keep driving as efficient as possible.
For packing we used a mix of new double walled boxes and sturdy boxes from previous jobs, alongside our reusable recycled blankets. At the end of the move the customer received a fully itemised digital invoice via QuickBooks instead of a printed one, which fits with our paperless by default approach. For them it felt like a straightforward Brighton to Hove house removal; behind the scenes it showed how eco minded packing, fuel choices, storage and paperwork all come together in one calm moving day.
Local Business Highlight: Big Yellow Self Storage Brighton
For bigger moves or awkward key handovers, we often work with our neighbours at Big Yellow Self Storage Brighton as a trusted local partner. On large jobs we’ll load your belongings straight into a storage unit for a few days or weeks, then redeliver when you’re ready. This fits neatly with our “move once, store once” eco approach and cuts down on unnecessary miles and handling.
We also help Big Yellow customers when units need clearing: if you’ve decided it’s time to empty a unit or move its contents to a new home, we can coordinate directly with the Brighton branch so the whole process is calm, efficient and well planned. As regular partners we’re fast tracked at checkout, which means your check in and check out on the day is quicker and less stressful.
It’s this kind of local, long term collaboration that makes sense for both the environment and our customers, trusted local storage, a removals team that knows the site well, and fewer delays and surprises on moving day.
Training and Tidy Sites: Clean Handovers and Minimal Waste
Our crew leaves properties tidy, sweeps up offcuts, keeps pavements clear and returns materials for reuse or recycling at the end of the job.
How You Can Make Your Move Greener With Us: Simple Steps That Make a Difference
If you want to go a step further, here is a simple eco moving checklist our Brighton removals customers often follow:
• Pack heavy items in smaller boxes so they can be stacked safely and reused on future moves
• Label boxes clearly with rooms and priority so we put things in the right place first time
• Keep a separate donation pile for good quality items that local charities and reuse centres can accept
• Photograph fire labels on sofas and armchairs so we can quickly check whether they can be donated
• Flatten and keep any strong boxes that might be useful for future moves or storage
• Tell us early about awkward items, attic access or dismantling so we only take things apart and rebuild them once
Small steps at your end, combined with our planning and packing, make a big difference to how eco friendly your move feels on the day.
For more behind the scenes clips from our Brighton eco removals, packing tips and real moving day stories across Sussex, follow us on Instagram and visit our Brighton removals blog at eastsussexvan.com/blog.
Our Promise to Keep Improving: Review, Refine, Repeat
We track routes, fuel and material use, adopt better products quickly and roll improvements into every booking across Brighton and Sussex.
Plan An Eco-Minded Move: Ready When You Are
Ready to put an eco moving checklist into practice rather than just read about it? Share your dates and a few details at eastsussexvan.com or call 07552 555 820 and we’ll shape a Brighton removals and Sussex house move plan that does things the greener way.
Key Terms Glossary
Eco removals
Our way of running Brighton and Sussex removals so they create less waste and mileage. It covers fuel choices, route planning, reusable packing, storage and paperwork, not a separate “green” add on.
Brighton man and van
A flexible removals service for smaller moves, single rooms or a few bulky items. You still get our eco minded planning and protection, just with a smaller team and vehicle.
Paperless by default
We send quotes, bookings, invoices and receipts digitally unless you ask for paper copies. It is faster for you and cuts down on printing, envelopes and postage. We use Intuit Quickbooks making sure your quotes and invoices are suitable for Brighton & Hove Council and any other companies or institutions.
Esso Ethos fuel
A lower impact diesel alternative we use where it is available locally. Combined with steady driving and route planning it helps reduce emissions from our Brighton and Sussex removals.
Move once, store once
Our approach when storage is needed. We load items straight into a storage unit, then deliver them once to your new home so each item travels fewer miles and is handled fewer times.
Goods in Transit insurance
Cover that protects your belongings while they are being moved or stored in our vehicles. ESV Removals Ltd includes £20,000 Goods in Transit insurance as standard on your move.
Public Liability insurance
Cover that protects you and your property if something goes wrong on site, for example accidental damage to a building. We carry £5 million Public Liability insurance on every job.
Donation and reuse
Keeping good items in circulation rather than sending them to landfill. That can mean dropping furniture to local charities, reusing strong boxes and choosing second hand where it is safe and practical.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a removal service “eco minded?”
For us it is not about buzzwords. Eco removals in Brighton and along the Sussex coast mean planning routes carefully, using lower impact fuels where we can, reusing protection instead of relying on single-use wrap, and keeping good boxes and furniture in circulation rather than sending them to landfill. It also means tracking what we actually do so we can keep improving across Brighton and Sussex.
Do greener removals cost more?
Not necessarily. Careful planning, right sized vehicles and fewer wasted trips often save time and fuel. Reusing boxes and protection helps reduce material costs. If we suggest extra protection or storage, it is because it protects your belongings and avoids damage or repeat visits, not because it is the “eco” option.
Why does greener moving matter in Brighton and along the South Coast?
Transport is now one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and almost all of that comes from burning petrol and diesel in road vehicles. In a coastal, windy area beside the South Downs, small reductions in mileage, idling and waste add up across thousands of miles a year. Choosing a removals company that plans routes, reduces trips and reuses materials is one of the easiest ways to cut the footprint of your move.
What is Esso Ethos fuel and why do you use it?
Where it is available on our routes we prioritise Esso Ethos lower impact fuel options for our diesel vans. Combined with steady driving and route planning this helps trim the emissions from each job without affecting reliability. It is one of the steps we can take now while we prepare for a future electric fleet.
When will you switch to electric vans?
Our pledge is to move to electric vans as soon as it is both economically and operationally viable for Brighton and Sussex routes. At the moment, range, charging infrastructure and payload limits can still be a challenge on long or heavily loaded moves, especially when we are covering both the coast and inland villages. In the meantime we reduce impact through fuel choices, grouped routes, maintenance and driver training so the diesel miles we do drive are as efficient as possible.
We are fully behind the push for net zero, but we believe the government needs to make the transition fairer for small businesses. Right now, the real benefits of electric vehicles mostly go to large companies with hundreds of thousands to invest up front, while family run firms like ours are priced out of the market. Interest free, government backed loans to help small businesses switch to electric vans would let us hit the same environmental targets, keep local services affordable and make sure the road to net zero is not just for the biggest players.
Can I still have paper copies of quotes and invoices?
Yes. We run paperless by default because it is quicker for most people and removes printing and postage waste. If you prefer paper records, just tell us when you book and we will provide printed copies without any fuss.
What happens to unwanted furniture and boxes after my move?
Where items qualify we can direct you to local reuse charities and community projects or schedule a same day drop off on route. Reuse keeps furniture and household goods in circulation and cuts the emissions linked to buying new. For cardboard, we encourage you to return clean, sturdy boxes through our take back scheme so they can be used again, and we recycle anything that has reached the end of its life.
How do you make sure you are not doing extra trips?
Before moving day we ask for photos or a simple list of items and we check access at both ends. We then choose a van size that will safely take the load in as few runs as possible and load in an order that avoids backtracking. On tight streets we may stage a larger vehicle nearby and shuttle with a smaller van to avoid looping round narrow roads and cul de sacs.
Is using second hand boxes really better for the environment?
Yes. The UK generates millions of tonnes of packaging waste every year and cardboard and paper make up the largest share. Reusing strong boxes for multiple moves delays recycling, saves energy and reduces how many new boxes need to be made. As long as boxes are clean, dry and structurally sound, there is no downside for your move.
What if my move needs more plastic wrap and protection?
Sometimes long storage, bad weather or very delicate items do need more wrap or covers to stay safe. In those cases we use what is needed to protect your belongings, then look for ways to reduce, reuse or recycle the materials afterwards. Safety and care for your items always come first; the eco part is about using protection intelligently, not cutting corners.
How can I help make my move greener?
You can help by packing heavy items in smaller boxes, labelling clearly so rooms are set correctly first time, keeping a separate donation pile, and photographing fire safety labels on sofas so charities can accept them. Let us know early about awkward items or dismantling so we take beds and wardrobes apart once and rebuild them once instead of making extra trips.
About the author...
Peter Hawes is the director of ESV Removals Ltd, a family run Brighton and Sussex removals team known for calm planning, careful handling and clear prices. He holds a 2:1 BA (Hons) in English Literature and Digital Media from the University of Brighton. Peter oversees every move from first message to the last box and brings local know how for permit zones, tight stairwells and seafront buildings. ESV is fully insured with £20,000 Goods in Transit and £5 million Public Liability, backed by hundreds of five star Google reviews. The company follows an eco pledge that prioritises Esso Ethos fuel where available, reuses boxes and runs paperless bookings. Learn more at www.eastsussexvan.com
