Poor package design leaves customers scrambeling at end

The Baltimore Sun recently looked at the inefficiencies in certain products when it comes to package design. How can the designers of such basic staples such as tooth paste and lotion create new designs in order to help consumers use as much of their product as they can instead of leaving it in the bottle. The Baltimore Sun reports as much as 25% of lotion and 13% of toothpaste are often left in their containers.

While it is up to package designers to help design packaging that helps consumers get as much as possible out of the product, it's also important that consumers make a conscious effort to use whole containers of products. Is there a way consumers and packagers could work together to improve the packaging?