Promising new wrap could replace plastic

"Plastic has mainly three toxins, which possibly cause cancer in the long run if absorbed in human bodies," Xu said.

The annual production of food wrappers in China reached 467,200 metric tons in 2019, compared with 192,900 tons in 2013, an increase of 142 percent, according to the China Association for Science and Technology.

The per capita consumption of food wrappers was 10 yuan ($1.44) at the end of 2019, an increase of 30 percent year-on-year, the association said on WeChat.

China added restrictions in January to the production, sale and use of single-use plastic products.

The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, which issued the policy, said plastic bags would be banned in all of China's major cities by the end of this year and banned in all cities and towns by 2022. Markets selling fresh produce will be exempt from the ban until 2025.

Xu said that his team would do more to support China's move to phase out single-use plastics.

"Our team is seeking cooperation with enterprises to commercialize the product of food wrappers soon," he said.