Upcycling

Although polylactic acid bioplastic is known for its biodegradability, it can take a long time to degrade if the conditions aren't right. Washington State University scientists have therefore devised a way of upcycling it into a 3D-printing resin.

Polystyrene is a problematic material when it comes to recycling, but a team of Virginia Tech researchers is hoping to change this with a novel method that turns it into a product of relatively high value.

As digital music files become increasingly popular, compact discs are likewise becoming obsolete. There may still be a use for some existing CDs, however, as the gold foil in them could be used in the production of wearable biosensors.

There are some situations in which extra office space is temporarily required, but a big move into a larger building would be overkill. That's where the ootbox comes in, as it's a rentable portable office made out of an upcycled shipping container.

Previously, scientists at the National University of Singapore have produced aerogels made from scrapped car tires and pineapple leaves, and now they're showing off a new version that is produced from upcycled metal waste.

Once discarded, spongy polyurethane foam typically just ends up in landfills, where it takes up a lot of space. Thanks to a newly-developed process, however, it could soon be recycled into higher-quality rubbers and hard plastics.

Brazilian architectural studio Gustavo Penna Arquiteto e Associados (GPA&A) in partnership with steel industry company Gerdau has recently completed a 45-sq-m (484-sq-ft) minimalist home built using mining waste.

The UK's Matthew Perks has been running a YouTube channel for about five years, where he walks viewers through the ins and outs of making their own gadgets. For his latest project, he's rescued some broken televisions and computer monitors and turned them into artificial daylight panel lighting.

​Though efforts are underway to tackle the plastic waste problem, the images of vast islands of floating plastic available online show that there is still much to be done. American Express has announced a collaboration with Parley to create the first credit card made mostly from ocean plastic.​

Adidas has some short-term plans to put some of the debris in the ocean to use. The sportswear manufacturer has today announced that its footwear made from recycled plastic waste will be available to buy this month.