In answering this question, it’s important first to note some things that might come as a surprise:
- “Plastic” is not inherently evil – it’s a material-science term that refers simply to something that can change shape when heated and then retain that shape when cooled. The term “plastic” includes no commentary on the material’s ingredients or how long it lasts: the two areas where the actual problems arise.
- Petroleum is the problem – when most people say “plastic” they mean traditional plastic, which is made from petroleum-derived components, and which includes most of the plastics you encounter each day. The petroleum-derived components and helper chemicals used with them are the source of concerns about toxicity and long-lasting microplastics.
A plant-based (or bio-based) plastic alternative is a “plastic” in the material-science sense (meaning simply that it’s a material with useful shape-changing capabilities), but one that is made from source materials other than petroleum (which is the source of the real problems).
Starting with plant-based, bio-based, or other natural source materials instead of petroleum is a promising first step toward avoiding the problems with traditional plastic. But you have to be careful here: simply being “plant-based” or “bio-based” is not enough…