Well, it's true--we don't NEED plastics at a very fundamental level. We've learned to need them. Whether or not they add to our quality of life is a matter of debate--may be true, may not be.
WS's thoughts about how our throw-away habits may have infiltrated into other areas of our lives is worth thinking about. How many people have thrown away good, well-crafted cabinetry to replace them with IKEA particleboard? How many people have thrown away a friendship because of a few misspoken words?
I remember having clear, strong "relationships" with our Christmas trees when I was a child, and I'd literally cry when they were taken out to the curb. Sounds silly, but even relationships with inanimate items can have value.