The issue with plastics is their disposal. Bioplastics are derived from renewable and sustainable sources and said to 'Biodegrade' easily. Arguments have been made that only 9% of all plastic manufactured are recycled, and their wastes are only increasing with continued use. Since bioplastics are made from natural sources such as vegetable fats, oils, corn starch, straw, wood chips, and food waste, the hope is that it will be absorbed more easily back into earth and not rot in a landfill over the next 1,000 years.
There is apprehension that bioplastics may not be the silver bullet and there will be limitations. There are arguments that biodegradation may not happen with any more ease and safety, and problems with their disposal may not be any different from those faced with conventional fossil-fuel derived plastics. Still it is important to understand some technological aspects of biodegradability to build on the positives.