The work aims to introduce the good antioxidant and bacteriostatic properties of tea polyphenols, and to summarize the research progress of the application of tea polyphenols and degradable film-forming substrates at home and abroad in food preservation, so as to provide a basis for further research. Through the summary of research status and research results at home and abroad, the preservation mechanism of tea polyphenol and specific application of its recombination with degradable film-forming substrate in food preservation (meat, vegetables, fruits, etc.) were introduced. The effect of the addition of tea polyphenols on the preservation effect of the composite film was analyzed. Biodegradable food preservation materials will have broad development prospects from the perspective of development trend. The addition of tea polyphenols will greatly increase the preservation effect of degradable composite films, but the research forms of tea polyphenol composite preservation materials at home and abroad are relatively simple, mostly in the form of composite film or film liquid preservation. The use of microcapsule technology combined with tea polyphenol composite preservation materials to prepare preservatives can not only control the amount of preservatives better, but also avoid direct contact with food too much, which is also a new idea worth trying.