Another green-themed post for you.

Did you ever stop to think about how your shipped holiday gifts get to their destination? The folks at Rodale did when they did a green comparison on nationwide shippers: UPS vs. FedEx.

Believe it or not, Brown is the greenest shipper of them all, mostly because in addition to eco-friendly packaging, UPS has figured out ways to reduce fuel consumption in its trucking lines. That said, FedEx deserves two green thumbs up for a few of its initiatives, including:

• Shipping envelopes made of 100% recycled materials
• Boxes and other packages designed to be reused (as opposed to tossed in the trash after opening)
• Switching some of its fleet to hybrid vehicles

Sometimes the most affordable way to ship something is through the United States Postal Service, and it’s not too shabby on the green front, too. Some of its eco-conscious efforts include providing a place for people to recycle unwanted direct mail in the post office lobbies, and letting people order postage via their computer and putting their package out with their daily mail, thus saving them the trip (and the cost of gas) to the post office.

Need to ship something this holiday season? Consider these three ways to save money and Mother Earth:

1. Reuse boxes. Chances are people are sending you stuff. Rather than flatten those boxes and put them out with recycling, keep a few around so that when you need to ship something, you’re not only reusing this item, you’re saving yourself from having to buy a box. You can score complimentary boxes via Freecycle or Craigslist, or even through dumpster diving.
2. Pack for as little waste as possible. I prefer packing my shipping boxes with something I know can be recycled on the other end, including shredded paper or crumpled up newspaper. Oh and the fact that these packing materials are free, too, doesn’t hurt.
3. Plan your shipping to minimize trips. Instead of mailing one package today and another tomorrow, figure out the date by which you need to ship your packages to arrive in time for the holidays, and then plan one big shipping trip to the post office, UPS Store or FedEx. You’ll save mostly time and the money for gas in doing things this way.