It’s Earth Day Countdown-a-thon time again. And another tip, this time submitted by a Greenthinkers reader, is to support less packaging.

Shop carefully and avoid excess packaging wherever you can. Use concentrates, buy in bulk sizes, download your music and the next time you have to buy something that is packaged in a ridiculous way - write to the manufacturer and tell them to ease up a little.

According to a CBC survey, North American companies continue to resist calls for reduced packaging. The worst culprits include double wrapped toilet paper and paper towels (hello Costco!), individual serving sizes of convenience foods, double-boxed and individually wrapped laundry detergent tablets, computer software and electronic components (cables and such). It’s a crazy packaged world out there.