Drinks cartons, plastic bags, bottles and polyester fabrics are thrown out in the trash everyday and its estimated that since the 1950s, one billion tons of plastic have been discarded. In an effort to combat this, designers are finding ways in which to weave this waste into beautiful and functional fabrics.

Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Michelle Baggerman has developed a technique for spinning used plastic bags into a durable yarn for making strong woven fabrics. The process involves neither heat or chemicals so when the textile wears out it can still be recycled in the conventional way.

Featuring a woven pattern that resembles tree bark, Cortina is a Cradle to Cradle-certified solar-protection textile used primarily for window shades. Cortina is made by American company Mermet from 100 percent PVC-free, recyclable polyester.

Woven with 100% recycled polyester, the Biota fabric features an organic pattern designed by textile designer Suzanne Tick for KnollTextile.

A revolutionary fiber, made from recycled food-and-drinks packaging, is woven around expanded aluminum mesh frames to create Stephen Burks’ Dala furniture line for Dedon.

Alvaro Catalan de Ocon‘s PET lampshades are woven by artisans in Santiago, Chile using strips cut from old plastic bottles.