A fracture in The Ocean Cleanup's "giant Pac Man", dispatched to scoop up waste from the Pacific Ocean, has forced the company to abort the mission and haul the apparatus back to shore. More
Paris-based artist Tadashi Kawamata has created a monumental installation of ocean plastic in the Oval Gallery of Lisbon's Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology. More
The European Parliament has voted for a ban on single-use plastic, on items for which alternatives already exist, in a bid to mitigate ocean pollution – a move that has been largely praised by architects, designers and brands. More
American clothing label Everlane has announced it will remove all virgin plastic from its supply chain by 2021, to help counter the "global plastics crisis", starting with its shipping bags. More
Could biodegradable plastics made from natural substances such as algae replace fossil-fuel polymers? Here are 10 examples of designers that are experimenting with environmentally friendly alternatives.
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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
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
