Green Hands USA: America Volunteers

The act of sending a package across the country can generate an awful lot of carbon emissions. That box needs to be driven someplace, then flown to a second location, then driven around a few more times before it gets to its destination.

What's a green-thinking package sender to do? Well, according to UPS itself, the greenest shipping method is to go brown.

According to UPS's own new sustainability report, UPS has made much greater strides in reducing its carbon footprint than rival FedEx, and is already more efficient than its competitor.

How green is brown? Well, UPS says its airline fleet is nearly 32% more efficient than FedEx's, and they run more alternative-fuel vehicles. 

FedEx, of course, contests some of the details of this report, and hypes its own sustainability, but for now, UPS seems to be in the lead. 

The rivalry between these two companies could be the greatest environmental business story out there. I'm sure we'll be hearing more from these two companies in the coming months as they do even more to measure their environmental impacts. Until then, my own shipping needs (as modest as they are) will be met by UPS. 

How about you?