Dutch Design Week kicked off in Eindhoven today, and Dezeen is in town hosting debates about whether design can tackle global issues. We've picked out 10 other worthy events and exhibitions, from an "embassy" exploring the future of food to a plastic recycling workshop. More about 10 must-see Dutch Design Week exhibitions that show designers making a difference
To encourage people to consume more tap water, Dutch designer Lotte de Raadt presents a range of terracotta carafes that naturally keep liquids cool at this year's Dutch Design Week, which starts today. More about Lotte de Raadt's terracotta carafes are designed to encourage people to drink tap water
As part of Good Design for a Bad World, a series of talks we are hosting with Dutch Design Week, we will ask whether designers can help to solve climate change. Here are eight ideas already developed. More about Eight designs that respond to the threat of climate change
Italian fashion house Gucci has committed to going fur-free and pledged to auction all past fur garments, to benefit animal-rights charities. More about Gucci pledges to stop using animal fur in its fashion collections
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 about Adidas uses Parley ocean plastic to update one of its classic shoe designs
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 about Recycled baths, TV screens and plastics all feature in Ready Made Go 3 collection
A massive mound of plastic in the Pacific Ocean becomes a country with its own passport, flag and "Debris" currency, in this design proposal intended to raise awareness about ocean pollution. More about Petition launched to recognise Great Pacific Garbage Patch as a country
Royal College of Art graduate Ryan Mario Yasin has won the UK edition of the James Dyson Award, with his line of children's clothing designed to grow with their wearer. More about Expandable kids' clothing wins James Dyson Award for best student invention in the UK
Benjamin Hubert has collaborated with British furniture brand Allermuir to create a collection made entirely from recycled materials, which will launch during this year's London Design Festival. More about Benjamin Hubert uses recycled aluminium, wood and nylon to create Axyl furniture
Start-up company Pentatonic is aiming to "radically transform consumption culture" with a range of furniture and products created from food, electrical, plastic and textile waste. More about Pentatonic turns smartphones, cans and cigarette butts into flat-pack furniture
Freight Farms, a startup that has found a way to grow crops inside shipping containers, features in the latest video in our Dezeen x MINI Living series. More about Freight Farms allows crops to be grown inside shipping containers
Didzis Jaunzems Architecture has built a circular pavilion for open-air music and lighting performances, designed to be reminiscent of an earthworm's natural habitat. More about Earthworm-inspired pavilion stages concerts and light shows in Latvia's floodplains
IKEA is expanding its solar panel offering with a battery-storage solution, which it claims could help homeowners cut their electricity bills by 70 per cent. More about IKEA launches solar battery packs to rival Tesla's Powerwall
The world's first autonomous, zero-emissions container ship is set to embark on its maiden voyage in 2018, delivering goods between Norwegian towns. More about World's first autonomous cargo ship to set sail in 2018
Bartlett School of Architecture graduate Damien Assini has proposed that the UK government reallocates funds from the proposed HS2 railway, and instead creates a natural landscape incorporating carbon-free modular housing and a green economy. More about Bartlett student Damien Assini suggests replacing HS2 railway with zero-carbon towns
IKEA, Habitat and Heal's are among the brands named in PETA's first Vegan Homeware Awards, which recognise the best cruelty-free designs for the home. More about PETA awards IKEA, Habitat and Heal's for vegan design
A group of scientists from California have developed a series of organic electronic components that will harmlessly dissolve into their environment after use. More about Stanford scientists unveil ultra-thin electronics that can dissolve into the body
Richard Pender was involved in every stage of this self-build project to create a sustainable and accessible house for his parents in rural Northumberland, which involved fabricating the wooden frame on site in a disused barn. More about Richard Pender and Dan Kerr combine local materials at self-built Shawm house
What Design Can Do has teamed up with Autodesk Foundation and IKEA Foundation to launch the Climate Action Challenge, a competition inviting designers to come up with proposals responding to climate change. More about Climate Action Challenge asks designers for proposals to tackle climate change
Cork-insulated roofs help create a stable temperature for wine production inside this solar-powered winery in Majorca by Munarq Arquitectes, which also features a sandstone exterior and wicker sunshades. More about Munarq Arquitectes uses sandstone, cork, ceramic bricks and wicker to build solar-powered winery in Majorca