A type of compostable bioplastic made of corn starch, sugar and used cooking oil, created by Crafting Plastics Studio, could replace "all the packaging we know", according to its designers. More
The first large-scale operation to scoop waste plastic from the Pacific Ocean has set off from San Francisco. More
Carlsberg is replacing the plastic ring wrapping used to secure multipack beers with eco-friendly glue, reducing its plastic waste by up to 76 per cent. More
London-based designer Charlotte Kidger gives new life to polyurethane foam dust by turning it into multi-coloured pieces of furniture. More
Brooklyn-based design studio Crème uses home-grown vegetables to produce a sustainable alternative to disposable coffee cups. More
A sea of beckoning cats feature in this installation by Central Saint Martins graduate Katie May Boyd. More
Central Saint Martins graduate Ying Wang has recreated a traditional tea ceremony ritual that uses milk and vinegar to produce an alternative to single-use plastic. More
Swedish homeware giant IKEA has revealed plans to remove all single-use plastics from its product range by 2020, while the Indian government has committed to banning the material from the country by 2022. More
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
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 its identity for the "world's first" plastic-free supermarket aisle. 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