Design studio Other Matter has built on its flagship product, a petrochemical-free signage film, by recycling it into an upholstery material called Other Matter Leather, on show this week at 3 Days of Design. More about Other Matter launches bio-leather made from single-use signage
Texas lighting company Lucifer Lighting has integrated ocean plastic into its Atomos downlighting, melting down millions of feet of fishing lines and nets into its injection moulding processes. More about Lucifer Lighting puts recycled ocean-plastic lights into mass production
University of Edinburgh researchers have used bacteria to turn plastic waste into a Parkinson's drug, advancing a new approach known as "bio-upcycling". More about Plastic bottles recycled into Parkinson's drug using bacteria
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have made recycled plastic into floor trusses for housing, arguing the waste stream could provide an abundant and sustainable structural building material. More about MIT researchers developing process to make houses from recycled plastic
Dutch manufacturer Pretty Plastic has created the facade for Plus Ultra III, the first timber laboratory building in the Netherlands, using tiles made from recycled post-consumer plastic waste. More about Pretty Plastic clads timber laboratory building in upcycled plastic tiles
Dezeen Showroom: Dutch company Pretty Plastic has produced tiles for facades and roofs using a notoriously hard-to-recycle material: PVC from post-consumer construction waste. More about Tiles by Pretty Plastic
Governments' failure to agree a treaty on curbing plastics pollution draws attention to how reliant on the material we have become but there may be a silver lining, writes Smith Mordak. More about "We need plastic to keep our economic order going"
Dezeen Showroom: Thai design brands Qualy and Harvbrand combined their expertise in wood and recycled plastic to create a shelving system made entirely from waste materials. More about Treevive shelving system by Qualy and Harvbrand
Dezeen Showroom: Thai studio Takehomedesign has released a collection of side tables made from recycled plastic, some of which have soft illumination integrated into their bases. More about Re-Up side tables by Takehomedesign
Retired bed linens and used cooking oil were salvaged to create Wasted 001, a collection of homeware and furniture designed by Max Lamb for Bali's Potato Head hotel out of its own waste materials. More about Max Lamb transforms hotel waste into one-of-a-kind furniture
Dezeen Showroom: German architecture studio Mungenast / Morroni aimed to be at the forefront of manufacturing and sustainability with this chair, which is 3D-printed from recycled plastic. More about Ruffini chair by Mungenast / Morroni
Surf Block Maui has developed a system that converts foam from surfboard-shaping into building materials for local construction to ameliorate multiple problems in Hawaii. More about Hawaii company converts surfboard waste into construction blocks
In this week's comments update, readers are discussing a glossy pink, spiralled baguette holder created by Swedish designer Gustaf Westman. More about "Finally someone designing for my needs" says commenter
Swedish designer Gustaf Westman has created a glossy pink, spiralled baguette holder, which provides an alternative way to carry skinny loaves of bread. More about Gustaf Westman designs handbag-style baguette holder
Multidisciplinary design studio Space Available has established a community centre in Jakarta, Indonesia, featuring a conversation pit containing recycling machines and furniture made from ocean plastic. More about Space Available crafts Self Care Community Centre from 11 tonnes of plastic waste
Polish designer Tomek Rygalik has launched Loope – a recycled plastic furniture brand that allows customers to return used products when they are no longer needed, so they can be turned into a different piece of furniture free of charge. More about Unwanted furniture turned into new items at no extra cost with Loope take-back scheme
New York-based designer Henry Julier's collection of Danish paper cord-topped furniture with Swiss furniture company USM was among the stand-out exhibitions at the inaugural Shelter fair during NYCxDesign. More about Henry Julier creates woven tops for USM collection at Shelter fair
Promotion: Swiss furniture brand Vitra has announced the development of a world-first easily recyclable polyurethane foam, developed in partnership with chemicals company BASF. More about Vitra introduces recyclable polyurethane upholstery foam called V-Foam
Dezeen Showroom: global architecture firm Gensler collaborated with The Good Plastic Company to produce a new nature-informed range of the brand's Polygood recycled plastic panels. More about Growth collection by Gensler for The Good Plastic Company
Promotion: Ukrainian-German company Lemki Robotix has created a functioning prototype for a 3D-printed caravan using fibreglass mixed with over 7,000 recycled plastic bottles. More about Lemki Robotix creates "world's first 3D-printed mobile home"