In Earth's story, society has portrayed plastic as a supervillain, while biodegradable plastics are the superheroes that swoop in and save the day. In theory, this analogy should make sense. By their definition, biodegradable plastics are made of plant materials. Thus, they should break down into biological elements, providing a more eco-friendly alternative than normal plastic that breaks down into microplastics and harmful chemicals. However, there's more to the story that people should keep in mind.