Creating communally for social good has to be the future of design, says Robert Phillips, author of Futurekind: Design by and for the People. He picks out five projects from the book that demonstrate the idea in action. More about Futurekind projects are designed for people rather than profit
Spanish fashion retailer Zara has announced that 100 per cent of the cotton, linen and polyester used in its clothing will be more sustainable, organic or recycled by 2025. More about Zara clothing to be made using 100 per cent sustainable fabrics by 2025
Embracing the circular economy and closed-loop design is the only way for brands to achieve business success while safeguarding the planet, according to Dharan Kirupanantham, a senior member of the innovation team at Adidas. More about Adopting circular design is "good for business" says Adidas eco-innovation leader Dharan Kirupanantham
Traditional Danish seaweed thatching could be updated into a sustainable contemporary building material, according to research by Kathryn Larsen. More about Viking-style seaweed thatch updated into prefab panelling
Consumer goods company Unilever has launched Cif ecorefill, a concentrated cleaning product that can be diluted at home within a refillable spray bottle, to reduce plastic use. More about Cif spray bottles can be refilled with ecorefill cleaning concentrate
Plants and insects can thrive on the surface of these Green Charcoal bio-bricks, engineered as an alternative to concrete by researchers at the Indian School of Design and Innovation in Mumbai. More about Bricks made from loofah and charcoal could promote biodiversity in cities
Bentley looks to the future with the EXP 100 GT concept car that pairs artificial intelligence with sustainable materials made from recycled rice-husks and wine-production waste. More about Bentley's EXP 100 GT concept reimagines grand touring for the year 2035
Pratt Institute graduate Garrett Benisch has proposed using biosolids, the organic matter derived from treated sewage, to produce a compostable ballpoint pen and its ink. More about Garrett Benisch designs Sum Waste pen derived from human sewage
Footwear brands are competing to produce ever more sustainable sneakers. Here are eight brands leading the pack with trainers made from algae and pineapple husks to bioplastics and recycled waste. More about Eight companies and designers making trainers as sustainable as possible
Graduate designer Hyunseok An wants to highlight the role that "unappreciated" algae could play in our diets by creating an indoor micro-farm for the home. More about Hyunseok An designs a sustainable algae micro-farm for the home
Central Saint Martins post-graduate student Mi Zhou has created toiletry bottles called Soapack that are cast from soap and melt away once they are no longer useful. More about Soapack bottles can be used as soap once their contents are finished
New toiletries brand By Humankind aims to eliminate plastic waste through more sustainable products such as refillable deodorants and dehydrated mouthwash. More about By Humankind wants to banish single-use plastic from your bathroom
Dutch airline KLM has teamed up with TU Delft to create the Flying-V aircraft concept, which is designed to consume 20 per cent less fuel than Airbus' A350. More about KLM and TU Delft aim to make aviation more sustainable with V-shaped aircraft
Ethical creative agency Nice and Serious has developed an online platform that directs Londoners to their closest zero-waste shops and offers tips on how to reduce your reliance on plastics. More about Useless is a digital directory for London's zero-waste shops
Italian furniture brand Kartell has released a "fully sustainable" version of its bestselling Componibili storage unit made from bioplastic. More about Kartell creates bioplastic version of its iconic Componibili storage unit
Canadian footwear brand Native Shoes has released a unisex sneaker made entirely from vegan-friendly materials including eucalyptus, pineapple husk and dried hevea milk. More about Native Shoes makes compostable plant-based sneakers from pineapple and eucalyptus
Circular economy champion Ellen MacArthur has called on designers to help transform the global economy along sustainable lines. More about Architects and designers "absolutely vital" in shift to circular economy says Ellen MacArthur
With environmental issues such as climate change and plastic pollution dominating the headlines, what are design brands doing to help the planet? From Kvadrat to Emeco, we've selected eight companies doing their bit to promote sustainability. More about Eight design brands leading the way in sustainability
LooWatt is a toilet that can be flushed without the need for any water, safely disposing of human waste to be turned into electricity and fertiliser. More about LooWatt's waterless toilet system turns waste into electricity and fertiliser
Mexican designer Fernando Laposse has developed Totomoxtle, a marquetry material made from the colourful husks of heirloom corn species that restore vital biodiversity. More about Totomoxtle is a material bringing rare corn back from the brink of extinction