※ The Seoul National University of Science and Technology's Startup Support Group provides promising startups with space, mentoring, networking, and commercialization support through its Business Incubation Center, aiding their growth. 'Startup in Science and Technology University' shares the stories of startups aiming to leap forward with the university's Business Incubation Center as their base.

As environmental issues due to climate change become more severe, customers increasingly prefer eco-friendly certifications or biodegradable products. ESG management by global companies is becoming a necessity rather than a choice. Consequently, the eco-friendly materials market is rapidly growing. However, the prejudice that "eco-friendly products are expensive and perform poorly" acts as an obstacle.


A startup has emerged to break this prejudice against eco-friendly products. It is Right People Co., Ltd. CEO Park Se-jin of Right People candidly shared thoughts on eco-friendliness.

Business Idea Discovered During Overseas Travel

Founded in 2020, Right People is a startup specializing in eco-friendly materials. Under the principle of "making the right products with the right materials," it develops and produces eco-friendly household goods using biodegradable materials.

CEO Park Se-jin's entrepreneurial background is unique. The opportunity for entrepreneurship came from a paper apron encountered by chance at a local restaurant during overseas travel in 2013. Convinced of the business potential of paper aprons, CEO Park moved to a specialty paper company to learn about the field. Starting in 2016, he began importing and distributing in partnership with overseas manufacturers as a personal business. As paper aprons recorded cumulative sales of KRW 360 million (as of 2019) and established a foothold, he encountered biodegradable materials while considering business expansion. Subsequently, he added biodegradable bags and mulching films (agricultural plastic) as business items, leading to the birth of Right People.

Having accumulated diverse experiences in pharmaceutical sales, educational material business planning, and specialty paper marketing, CEO Park stated, "While doing business, I often encountered eco-friendly products that did not use proper standards and materials. I thought these products actually created a negative perception of eco-friendliness. I wanted to break the prejudice that eco-friendly products are inferior in performance compared to their price," explaining the reason for fully entering the eco-friendly market.

Right People focuses on developing eco-friendly products that consider the environment without compromising practicality, in line with CEO Park's philosophy. They are also redefining the standards for eco-friendly products.

Focus on Biodegradable Bags, Mulching Film, and Paper Wet Wipes


Right People's main products are biodegradable bags, mulching films, and paper wet wipes. They are characterized by being sturdy and eco-friendly, made with Right People's unique know-how on general biodegradable film and paper materials. This is possible due to CEO Park's high understanding of biodegradable material blending and paper.

Particularly, biodegradable mulching film stands out in the agricultural sector. With a unique biodegradable material blend, it enhances tensile strength when pulled from both sides during mulching film covering and strengthens the composting period for natural decomposition. Additionally, it is competitively priced, receiving positive responses from farmers. CEO Park stated, "For mulching film, we use only 100% biodegradable materials. There is no problem even if it mixes with soil or crops," adding, "This year, we collaborated with two local agricultural cooperatives, reducing costs for work time and labor while increasing yield, resulting in high satisfaction. They expressed intentions for additional contracts next year."

According to Right People, biodegradable mulching film not only suppresses weeds but also shows excellent effects in moisture retention and soil temperature control. Moreover, unlike conventional mulching film, there is no need to collect it after use, reducing labor and increasing efficiency. It is cheaper than other biodegradable mulching films but strong. They have also secured reviews from agricultural workers who have never experienced tearing during work.

The same goes for paper wet wipes. Right People's paper wet wipes insist on 100% pulp material, making them flushable. In contrast, general wet wipes are made of synthetic fibers like polyester (PET) and polypropylene (PP), which can take hundreds of years to decompose naturally and can clog sewage pipes when flushed due to fiber clumping. This has been pointed out as a major cause of microplastic issues.

CEO Park stated, "We focused on improving paper wet wipes by discovering stronger fabrics using good pulp. They are scheduled to be launched in some convenience stores next year, and they will be the most convenient among paper wet wipes on the market," adding, "We are also working on upgrading the fabric through in-house development. We expect to have a completely self-developed fabric in 1-2 years."


For paper wet wipe packaging, they obtained a patent for biodegradable packaging materials, allowing the use of 100% paper and biodegradable materials. They also added functionality to the packaging with eco-friendly coating for oil and moisture resistance. Additionally, they are conducting mass production tests for packaging materials by skillfully blending biodegradable materials responsible for strength and flexibility. They plan to replace snack packaging with biodegradable materials in the future, ensuring no inconvenience compared to general packaging.

Right People emphasizes an eco-friendly strategy focused on customers' daily lives. CEO Park stated, "Our strategy is to make all consumer goods and disposable products used in daily life naturally become carbon-reducing products, while maintaining convenience and hygiene. We want to create an eco-friendly environment that coexists and is shared by everyone."

Complementing Biodegradable Weaknesses and Securing Core Technology

Right People did not have a smooth start from the beginning. CEO Park had never formally learned about biodegradable materials, and his knowledge of paper was insufficient, leading to what could be called "heading into the unknown."

CEO Park stated, "I majored in business administration but also dabbled in chemistry. I worked hard to learn how paper can dissolve well in water and how biodegradable film can decompose well in the ground," adding, "Biodegradable materials or paper have different characteristics depending on heat, moisture, and exposure time. We went through many trials and errors in developing the biodegradable fabric and paper fabric we wanted."


These difficulties were resolved by frequently meeting with eco-friendly industry stakeholders. To find ways to make high-quality eco-friendly fabrics, they had no choice but to put in the effort. CEO Park recalled, "We accumulated meaningful data through advice from existing eco-friendly companies and communication with partners. This allowed us to create high-quality products at realistic prices," adding, "We valued trust the most when dealing with client companies. By honestly producing from raw materials to thickness, trust was built, leading to repeat purchases and naturally increasing sales."

Through various trials and errors, Right People has acquired the capability to discover and develop fabrics. They have particularly solved the strength issue, a weakness of biodegradable materials, securing their core technology. This is why Right People can provide sturdy yet easy-to-use products at reasonable prices.

CEO Park stated, "Most eco-friendly materials are imported from overseas and are expensive. Right People will soon create an environment where eco-friendly materials can be developed domestically," adding, "This will allow us to provide products at a lower price. Gradually gaining competitiveness, we ultimately aim to grow into a company that sells raw materials."

Expanding into Energy Business from Plastic Collection Machines to Smart Farms

Right People has been selected for the specialized BI nurturing support project of the Seoul National University of Science and Technology's Startup Support Group's Business Incubation Center, receiving various supports. They continue to grow with practical help from the Business Incubation Center, from space to mentoring.

CEO Park stated, "Through mentoring, we could draw the picture of where we are now and where we will go in the future. We could plan for industry-academia cooperation to create better technology and find ways to maximize our strengths," adding, "The IR Investment Bridge program provided an opportunity to improve IR materials and presentation skills, becoming a stepping stone for further growth with practical support from the Business Incubation Center."

Right People is expanding beyond biodegradable product development to an eco-friendly energy business incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Currently, the plastic collection machine is undergoing prototype testing before mass production, and the smart farm and smart livestock projects are in the planning and preparation stages. CEO Park stated, "While making eco-friendly materials is important, I thought a system to efficiently collect and recycle already emitted plastics is also necessary," adding, "The smart farm aims to create a virtuous cycle structure that reduces environmental burden and increases productivity. It will be possible for even a single farmer."


Currently, the biggest challenge for Right People is attracting large-scale investment. Having completed the development of competitive main products like eco-friendly wet wipes, packaging materials, and biodegradable mulching films, they aim to expand supply through economies of scale. They are preparing for investment attraction through Seoul National University of Science and Technology's IR mentoring and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' venture investment system education. They plan to pursue cloud funding and VC investment attraction in the future.

CEO Park stated, "We plan to stabilize the market share of our main products by 2026 and start overseas expansion. We will also promote the establishment of multipurpose factories and domestic and international branches," adding, "We are currently processing patents for biodegradable packaging materials and plan to file patents for paper packaging materials in the future."

Right People promotes eco-friendliness in a direction that is effective, not expensive, and convenient, rather than flashy and grandiose. This is out of a desire for eco-friendliness to blend into customers' lives without significant changes. CEO Park stated, "Saying we will change the world may be an arrogant statement. But I believe it is possible if we change one thing at a time," adding, "Environmental issues are not something the next generation should be responsible for. If no one does it, it won't change, so we must start eco-friendliness now."

From biodegradable materials to AI-based environmental energy solutions, Right People's vision for an eco-friendly ecosystem is gradually progressing to change the environment. Their efforts are hoped to permeate the world as a positive influence.

IT Donga Reporter Park Gwi-im (luckyim@itdonga.com)

Popular News