Enterprising 28 Year Old Inventor Could Hold the Key to Solving This Global Health Crisis This 28 year old inventor and startup CEO just may save us from one of the most menacing health threats of our time. No, it’s not alcohol, cigarettes, or cholesterol. We’re talking about plastic, that common household material of convenience used in everything from resealable bags, food storage containers, and shampoo bottles to single use utensils and straws, water bottles, baby bottles and children’s toys (including some teething toys).  One could argue it’s become a human addiction, but at what cost? Plastic adoption by the public significantly increased in the post-World War II era, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s. With it’s sharp increase also came a sharp and steady decline in human fertility, According to the National Library of Medicine, “Over the past half-century, the world has witnessed a steep decline in fertility rates in virtually every country on Earth.” The connection had largely been shrugged off, along with many other steadily growing health complications, that is until now. Infertility isn’t the only issue, not by a long shot.A 2025 USA TODAY article sounds the alarm, stating “Evidence is accumulating that microplastics found nearly everywhere are also invading our bodies. The world has a plastic problem and it seems to be getting worse. A study released in late April found that chemicals in plastics were potentially associated with as many as 350,000 heart disease deaths globally in 2018.”The Washington Post backs up these studies, stating in another recent  2025 article, “Reports published in 2025 link exposure to specific chemicals found in plastics, known as phthalates, to a significant number of heart disease deaths worldwide. “The USA TODAY article continues, “Evidence is also accumulating that the microplastic bits now found everywhere in our environment – from Antarctica to the Amazon – are invading our bodies and have been implicated in everything from heart disease to infertility. In addition, the chemicals used in plastic can leach out into food, potentially increasing risks for obesity, heart disease and other ailments.The nation's new Health and Human Services Secretary, [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.],” historically branded an alarmist and conspiracy theorist, has been vindicated on many fronts, including this one. The USA TODAY article goes on to state that Kennedy, “has historically been skeptical of the safety of plastics, writing in 2023, "Some of the toxic chemicals used in everyday items such as plastic packaging can cause cancer and birth defects."60 Minutes Australia did a recent report declaring there are  “potentially toxic chemicals hidden in [plastic] baby bottles.”It’s clear we have a massive problem. We’ve come to rely on plastic, but traditional petroleum-based plastics are being exposed as the new cigarette smoking, or worse. So, what’s the solution? Dillon Baxter (pictured, left) is the 28 year old inventor of PlantSwitch.PlantSwitch is a material that looks, feels, and performs identically to plastic, only it’s made from plants. Baxter’s plant plastic sheds zero harmful microplastics into our bodies or into the environment. Unlike traditional plastic, which takes an average of 1,000 years to break down in landfills, PlantSwitch plastic breaks down in just weeks in standard home countertop or backyard compost bins and does not require industrial compost bins as previous attempts at alternative plastics have. Baxter’s plastic is derived from agricultural waste that had previously been discarded by the farming community who didn’t have a clue about its potential to remake an entire industry, as well as our health and environment. It is, in fact, according to Baxter,  “the key to solving our plastic problem.” Americans use roughly 37 million tons of plastic, annually. And a lot of it is making its way into our reproductive organs, our hearts and blood vessels, our livers, and it is even crossing the blood-brain barrier.  A PlantSwitch fork (left) after composting vs. a different alternative plastic after composting  PlantSwitch plastic is made from materials like rice husks, flax, hemp and wheat straw which creates zero harm to the planet and our bodies.     PlantSwitch has been embraced by VC investors, Federal grants and other mission-driven investing partners. The company opened their U.S.-based 52,000 square foot manufacturing facility in early 2024 to accommodate the growing demand for PlantSwitch’s plant-derived plastic. Widely adopted, PlantSwitch has partnered with major national food brands like Taylor Farms and national retail chains like Walmart and Costco. They are in talks with additional conglomerates from national fast food chains to cosmetics brands. How did PlantSwitch become the leader in alternative plastic?In addition to the safety, efficacy, and convenience of its material, PlantSwitch plastic is the first company to produce a true drop-in solution for companies, making it the most affordable alternative plastic available. PlantSwitch plastic pellets are compatible with existing plastic processing and molding machinery, so industries do not have to invest in new machinery. PlantSwitch plastic is currently being molded into products like utensils, bowls, plates, packaging, straws, jars, lids, coffee pods, cosmetics containers, medical devices and more; with the capability to be produced in most colors for branding.Right now the company is working on a way to produce clear plastic that can eventually replace petroleum plastic water bottles and re-sealable storage bags