A collection of limited-edition sunglasses are the first product to be launched as part of a new fundraising platform that seeks to recycle plastic from the ocean into consumer products. More
Plastic waste from one of the world's best restaurants is being transformed into hexagonal stools by Spanish designer Andreu Carulla. More
Researchers have created a series of 4D-printed plastic objects that fold themselves into predetermined shapes when heated, which they believe could be scaled up to create flat-pack furniture. More
Scientists have discovered an enzyme that can "digest" plastic and revolutionalise recycling, but environmentalists warn the "miracle" breakthrough should not make designers complacent about the need to reduce use of the material. More
Milanese design gallerist Rossana Orlandi is launching a project aimed at changing the perception of plastic and ensuring the material is used responsibly. More
Japanese designer Kodai Iwamoto uses glass-blowing techniques to remodel plastic pipes into vases, which he is showing at Milan design week. More
Canowater has revealed the latest addition to its range of environmentally friendly water cans – a special-edition container created by fashion designer Christopher Raeburn for London Zoo. More
Lego is set to launch a range of botanical elements made from a plant-based plastic sourced from sugar cane, in a bid to reduce its plastic waste. More
British tea brand PG Tips is launching a new tea bag made from 100 per cent biodegradable plant-based materials, replacing its old design that included a proportion of polypropylene plastic. More
London studio Made Thought looked to the style of old propaganda posters when designing the identity of the "world's first" plastic-free supermarket aisle for environmental charity A Plastic Planet. More
A group of German designers have created stool seats from oddly shaped pieces of recycled plastic produced at an injection-moulding factory. More
With the news that designers are pioneering ways of using recycled plastic, here's a look at some of the best examples, from an IKEA kitchen built from plastic bottles to Nike shoeboxes made from recycled cartons. Follow Dezeen on Pinterest ›
A new generation of sustainably minded designers is pioneering ways of using recycled plastic as a raw material, as concern over pollution increases. More
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has teamed up with design and consulting firm IDEO to create a guide that helps businesses design for the circular economy. More
The winners of a lucrative competition tasking designers to come up with new materials to replace plastic packaging have been revealed. More
The city of Miami Beach has fined the organisers of an Instagrammable ice cream-themed museum $3,000 for environmental damage, after remnants of its plastic sprinkle ball pit were found littering the streets and feared heading into the ocean. More
Kieran Timberlake has completed work on the US Embassy in London, a glass cube swathed in shimmering sails of plastic that is set on a plinth and surrounded by a moat-like pond on the edge of the River Thames. More
Dutch designers Eric Klarenbeek and Maartje Dros have developed a bioplastic made from algae, which they believe could completely replace fossil-derived plastics over time. More
Swiss designer Yves Behar has designed a backpack made from recycled sails for California-based environmental non-profit Sustainable Surf, to raise awareness about protecting the ocean. More
Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Shahar Livne has created a clay-like material using discarded plastic that could be mined by future civilisations. More