No, there is no global evidence to suggest that we need plastics to avoid all food waste. Plastics may be useful in certain cases. Why not use reusable plastics instead of single-use plastics where plastic is a good thing for meat, for example?
We know there's evidence that plastic contributes to food waste. Have you ever been to the store and bought five peppers instead of the two you needed for your recipe because there wasn't any other option? Three go bad in your fridge. There is no single answer to this question.