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
Architect Safia Qureshi wanted to change the world but ended up designing private houses for rich people. So she invented Cupclub, a circular-economy service that could eliminate single-use coffee cups. As it launches in London, she spoke to Dezeen about the project. 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
Antwerp-based brand Ecobirdy has used recycled plastic toys to create a range colourful furniture for kids, aiming to raise their "awareness for sustainability". More
The winners of a lucrative competition tasking designers to come up with new materials to replace plastic packaging have been revealed. More
This captioned movie shows the making of Flora-Gato, a shelter made by Los Angeles-based architects Formation Association, Terremoto and Arktura as part of an annual fundraiser to raise money for the city's stray cats. More
Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Shahar Livne has created a clay-like material using discarded plastic, which she envisions as a valuable commodity that future civilisations will mine for. More
As part of its long-standing collaboration with environmental initiative Parley for the Oceans, Adidas has updated one of its classic shoes from the 1990s with yarns made from waste plastic. More
Dutch studios Bureau SLA and Overtreders W plan to use only responsible materials to build a temporary pavilion for this year's Dutch Design Week, including colourful shingles made of waste plastic, and components that will be returned after use. More
Designers including Michael Marriott, James Shaw and Soft Baroque have favoured recycled materials for this year's Ready Made Go collection, presented at Ace Hotel during London Design Festival. More
Having already designed trainers made from ocean plastic, fashion designer Stella McCartney has revealed that she will collaborate with Parley for the Oceans on a long-term project named Ocean Legends. More
Adidas and fashion designer Stella McCartney have revealed a new version of the Ultra Boost trainer that features an upper made from plastic recovered from the sea. More
Twenty-five plastic bottles are used in each of these IKEA kitchen units, designed by Swedish studio Form Us With Love to make "sustainability available for everyone". More
London Design Biennale 2016: fragments of recycled ocean plastic are inlaid to achieve the terrazzo effect of the Gyro table, designed by Brodie Neill for Australia's entry into the first London Design Biennale (+ slideshow). More
London-based Studio Swine has developed its work with ocean plastic, crafting a series of objects from the material to represent each of the ocean gyres where it accumulates (+ movie). More