Recently, an unusual sink-like device has appeared in SeoulTech's Student Union Building 1. This is an invention made by the startup company NAWA (No Answer We Answer). The invention, called 'Cupkkiri,' is essentially a washer machine designed exclusively for paper cups. It cleans cups with water, facilitating proper recycling. We interviewed the CEO of NAWA and learned about the company's journey.

Q1. Please introduce yourself to the readers of The SeoulTech.

A. Hi, I'm Seo Young-ho and the CEO of a startup company called NAWA, which was established about a year ago. Since then, I've established partnerships with several universities including Hongik University (Sejong Campus) and Jeju National University, as well as SeoulTech, and I'm running test operations in each university. Using the data that we have gathered from these trials, we are preparing for the Innovation Leaders Summit (ILS) and the international Consumer Electronics Show (CES), in addition to a few other events.

Q2. Tell me about your company.

A. I started NAWA to find solutions to unsolved problems. Even though there are countless businesses all over Korea, not many tackle the serious issues that the world is facing. Taking account of this, I realized that the Korean government was struggling with paper cup recycling. When I did a bit more evaluation, I found that the recycling rate was indeed very low as the cups usually just get thrown away without being cleaned. At this point, I was convinced I could help, so I approached a pulping company. They were interested in working together and said they would recycle cups for tissue as long as we could provide them with clean ones. We made a deal and that led me to set up NAWA.

Q3. What is the 'Cupkkiri' that has been installed at SeoulTech?

A. Cupkkiri is a product that cleans paper cups and makes them reusable. To give a simple explanation, if someone places a cup in the inlet, a vacuum gripper grabs the cup with the suction tube and rotates it 180 degrees to remove dirt and debris. The machine then pressure-washes the cup, holds it upside down for 3 seconds to empty the water, and then dries it. After that, the cups are automatically accumulated in the Cupkkiri's storage box and compressed at regular intervals. This gets the cups ready for recycling.

Q4. How did you get this idea? What was your inspiration?

A. The idea suddenly popped into my mind when my friend and I were at a zoo. We saw an elephant suck water up its trunk and spray it on its body, and that's when it clicked. That's why we named it Cupkkiri (a compound word from cup and kokkiri (elephant in Korean)). However, since it is not easy to pronounce Cupkkiri to non-Korean speakers, we use another name, MOA (which means 'collect' in Korean), for international use. MOA is easier way to pronounce.

Q5. What steps have you taken to ensure the Cupkkiri is an eco-friendly product itself?

A. First, it doesn't use any chemical products. It only uses water to wash cups. Going forward, there might be a solution for deep cleaning, but that will also be an eco-friendly product, which won't produce bubbles. We are also considering ways for Cupkkiri to run using rainwater. At the moment, our staff and I collect rainwater in buckets to fill our machine, and we want to work out if it's possible to scale this idea up. As it stands, Cupkkiri uses a minimal amount of water anyway. In a whole month, it's about the same amount as a single 5 to 10 minute shower.

Q6. What is your ultimate goal for NAWA?

A. I always say that NAWA is trying to delay the destruction of the environment. As a business, I don't think we can stop it altogether because recycling paper cups alone is not enough to save the planet, but we can make a difference. I read in an article that Gyeonggi-do's landfills will be full by 2025. Our goal is to put that date back to 2026. We believe that even a slight reduction in disposable cups going into landfills can buy some time for better inventions or policies for Earth. Now, our team and I are working on implementing Cupkkiri in hospitals where paper cups are used extensively for sanitation. For this, we have run test operations in universities like SeoulTech.

In the face of environmental challenges, innovators like Seo Young-ho and his company NAWA are demonstrating the power of creativity and determination to make a positive impact. Cupkkiri, with its unique approach to paper cup recycling, offers signs of hope for a greener future. As we look ahead, let us remember that even small steps can collectively lead to significant progress in preserving our planet. With such visionary individuals and solutions in our midst, the journey towards sustainability becomes even more promising.

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Reporter,

Suyoung Kong ksy6648@seoultech.ac.kr

Reporter 공수영

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• e-mail : ksy6648@seoultech.ac.kr