People look at exhibits at the "Paper with Chinese Medicine Dregs in Cipher" exhibition on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Lifu Museum of Chinese Medicine Aug. 2, 2023

In a statement released Wednesday, the Lifu Museum of Chinese Medicine said the paper exhibition, titled "Paper with Chinese Medicine Dregs in Cipher," would run from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31 at the museum in CMU's campus.

The museum said Taiwan's Chinese medicine-making industry produces around 1,500 metric tons of herbal medicine dregs a year, but did not specify the source of that figure.

Such dregs, left following the production of Chinese medicine, are fiber-rich plant roots, stems and leaves. The most common way of disposing of them is to turn them into compost or planting materials, it added.

Driven to find other ways to make use of Chinese medicinal herbal residues, the museum's director, Kao Sheng-te (高尚德), was cited in the statement as saying the museum came up with the idea of working with Taiwan's veteran Guang Xing Paper Mill to produce paper made from the dregs.

The museum also collaborated with Japanese retailer MUJI on crafting goods from the new type of handmade paper, Kao said.

CMU President Hung Mien-chie (洪明奇) touted the success of making paper using herbal residues as a new highlight in the quest to make sustainable goods, while Guang Xing CEO Huang Chi (黃琪) called the idea a breakthrough in sustainable production.

The special exhibition is divided into three zones that focus on sustainability, fragrance, and vision, according to the museum.

It explained that through a special production method, the unique aroma of Chinese herbal residues are preserved in the paper, adding that it's also possible to see evidence of the plant substances -- such as flower petals -- on the paper.

Around 20 types of Chinese medicinal herbs were used to make the paper, including dried ginger, the root of membranous milk vetch, Chinese angelica and cinnamon bark, according to the museum.

Some of the Chinese medicine materials can replace 80 percent of virgin pulp and the paper made from them can be used for writing, handicrafts among other applications.

(By Chao Li-yen and Elizabeth Hsu)