The Prince of Wales made a royal visit to a laboratory that is attempting to create biodegradable plastics today, on his continued crusade to save the planet.

Prince Charles, who has long been passionate about highlighting climate change and living sustainably, took a tour of Polymateria Ltd at Imperial College in London.

He was seen laughing and joking with students, as he unveiled a plaque at the college and toured the lab.

The Prince of Wales looked in good spirits as he toured Polymateria Ltd at Imperial College London today, a lab that creates biodegradable plastics

The royal was snapped smiling and laughing with staff as he greeted them during a reception

The royal looked engaged on his tour of the lab and animated while chatting to staff during his visit.

The Polymateria lab aims to create biodegradable and compostable plastics.

Prince Charles unveiled a plaque at the lab in honour of his visit, before he was shown around the building by students.

He looked smart for his visit, wearing a navy pinstriped suit, with a blue and white striped shirt.

Prince Charles seemed in good spirits on his visit to Imperial College London today, and wore a classic pinstriped suit, blue and white striped shirt and a blue tie that featured little white elephants

He was photographed laughing and joking with students after his visit to the Polymateria lab in London

He finished off his outfit with a light blue tie, which had a pattern of white elephants across it.

He looked riveted as he toured the lab and spoke to scientists about the mission to build biodegradable and compostable plastics.

And after his tour, he seemed optimistic, smiling and joking as he met students of the college.

The Prince has long been vocal about his desire to combat climate change, and takes a personal interest in causes which hope to do the same.

Prince Charles has long been vocal about his desire for more sustainability and passion for combating climate change

The Prince of Wales seemed riveted by the scientists in the lab, who hope to create biodegradable and compostable plastics

The royal wore a classic pinstripe suit, and blue and white shirt, but finished his outfit with a charming light blue tie with small white elephants

He has spoken before about the importance of sustainability, saying at an event in November: 'If we do not act our children and grandchildren will not be able to sort out the mess.

'We are the first generation to understand, in full and terrifying scientific detail, that we are destroying our world. And we are the last to be able to do something about it.'

In a documentary in the same month, son Prince Harry revealed his father can't help 'banging the drum' even when he sits down with his sons to dinner.

He told Prince William : 'You know how frustrated he gets. But he's done an amazing job, and without telling us what he should be doing or the direction that we should go in, he's just let us learn from the nature of the job, learning from him, learning from Mummy.

The programme Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70, which aired on the BBC, the princes also revealed that their father took them litter picking as children, and was a stickler for turning off the lights.

To commemorate the visit, Prince Charles also unveiled a blue plaque for Polymateria Ltd