Baby Shi-hu’s Commercial Debut and Behind-the-scene Episodes

-Inside the commercial: episodes of ‘pregnancy~delivery~parenting’ -Behind-the-scene: from brainstorming to end-result   Coway unveiled a short film on the making of its new TV advertisement campaign, launched in February 2009. Expectant mothers who wish to give nothing less than Grade 1 quality to their unborn child are the most fitting models to express and represent Coway’s commitment to provide the cleanest and purest water in the world.     The video first takes place in conference rooms where there are active and at times fierce exchanges of ideas for the commercial. There is a visible tension between the side that firmly believe in conveying the company’s commitment to making clean water and the other side that strongly feel the right direction to head is to emphasize Coway’s membrane filter, the very technology that sets it apart from its rivals. After a series of meetings and exchanges of opinions, everyone was on board the idea that the content has to be “something that our customers can relate to.” And a shy but certainly unignorable voice set the whole direction of the commercial: “my pregnant wife wouldn’t drink just any water now.”    Capturing water as well as a baby’s growth was quite a challenge as it required the exact same time needed for the baby model to actually grow in person. Finding a model was not an easy task either. Any place that has expecting mother’s presence was a good candidate to post open calls: internet, magazine, gynecologist, and even photography studios that specialize in mother-to-be. Following a two month interview with some 200 candidates, three couples were chosen for the part.   Documentaries of three couples were filmed and ultimately, story of baby shi-hu’s parents was selected and aired on TV. It was successful in the sense that it captured ‘reality’ which is the very essence of documentaries and this was possible thanks to the friendly relationship shooting crew developed with the families.   All the hard-work and ups and downs finally lead to the birth of first two powerful episodes of ‘pregnancy’ and ‘delivery’. And they did a solid job in capturing the hearts and minds of viewers and delivering corporate message in a moving and heartfelt way.   A new episode that features Shi-hu’s first 100 days in the outside world and first-time parent Do-Yup·Sue-Ah couple’s exciting story is also in the making. Stories on the baby who became the youngest commercial model even before birth… And Coway’s message that it will not settle for anything but the purest and cleanest, have us very much looking forward to the next episode.

keep Indoor Air Safe from Uninvited Guest

Health-damaging Yellow Dust Storm   Yellow dust originates in the deserts and yellow earth areas of Asian continent, especially China and Mongolia where high-speed winds and dust storms kick up dense clouds of fine, dry soil particles. These clouds are then carried eastward to far places. As industrial pollutants including heavy metals and other carcinogens accompany dust storms, they pose a serious environmental problem for Asia. When the storm is caught by a jet stream, it can travel all the way across the pacific to United States and Canada, seriously degrading air quality there. Dust storms, on average, are known to increase the amount of health-damaging pollutants in the air by four fold.     Asian Dust is known to trigger a number of health conditions, not limited to asthma, respiratory infection, conjunctivitis, and dry eyes. A majority of people spend increasing amount of time inside homes, offices and schools. And indoor air polluted with yellow dust can adversely affect respiratory system and health. Indoor air is known to be over 10 times more polluted than the air outside and there is no overstressing the importance of maintaining indoor air clean and fresh for a healthy life.   Capturing water as well as a baby’s growth was quite a challenge as it required the exact same time needed for the baby model to actually grow in person. Finding a model was not an easy task either. Any place that has expecting mother’s presence was a good candidate to post open calls: internet, magazine, gynecologist, and even photography studios that specialize in mother-to-be. Following a two month interview with some 200 candidates, three couples were chosen for the part.   Clean and Crisp Air, Let Purifiers Work Their Magic   We are recently witnessing more severe and frequent occurrences of yellow dust storms. Many products known to maintain indoor air clean have gained popularity and air purifiers are one of them. In fact, they have gained a must-have status at home. They owe this popularity to their ability to change indoor air and maintain it pleasantly clean and crisp. Purifiers are very effective in removing particulate matters like fine particles and special filters even boast their effectiveness in removing viruses, bacteria, formaldehyde and other hazardous gases. This is why air purifiers are recommended as an ideal option for managing indoor air quality. People in areas affected by the dust, are advised to avoid or minimize outdoor activities, leave windows closed to keep uninvited fine particles from coming in, and to turn on their air purifiers to ensure clean and healthy air, free from health-damaging effects of yellow dust storm.

Hope for Cambodia Shines at IFA

Coway raised contributions for Cambodia well-drilling project from philanthropic buyers and visitors at the 2009 IFA (Internationale Funk Ausstellung) exhibition held from September 4-9 in Berlin, Germany.   The fund-raising campaign was intended to raise awareness on the desperate environment that underserved population in the poorest nations have to live in and encourage well-meaning visitors to show their support. And over one thousand visitors a day responded by donating 6,500 Euro (approximately 11 million won) in total, allowing Coway to drill 22 additional life-saving wells to Cambodian children who desperately need access to clean underground water.   The water crisis in Cambodia is severe. Over 90% of its population lack access to clean water or sanitation and this poses great health risks to numerous children who are vulnerable to waterborne diseases like typhoid and malaria, among others. Coway launched ‘Cambodia well-digging’ campaign in 2006 to help improve the situation and under ‘A Thousand wells, A Thousand Hopes’ slogan, it aims to drill one thousand wells by the year 2015.   The first-time exhibitor at IFA impressed many with its 38 products including water filter, air purifier, and food waste disposer that incorporate environment friendly technologies. Cambodia fund-raising campaign as well as ‘cut plastic bottle use’ campaign, helped Coway to build an eco-friendly corporate image that is characterized by green management and culture of sharing.   “Profit-making alone cannot make a company successful in this age of green economics. Organizations that get ahead will be the ones that think environment and contribute to the society,” says Joon-Kee Hong, CEO of Coway at the exhibition. “We are committed to disseminating green technologies as well as sustainable practices and will continue to be a socially responsible company.”

Coway to establish ‘Carbon Partnership’ with its suppliers

-First green home appliance maker to develop GHG inventory with suppliers – 50 suppliers to receive two-year customized support until 2011 – Designated as national project by Ministry of Knowledge and Economy to receive budgetary support   Coway (CEO Joon-Kee Hong, www.Coway.co.kr) held a ceremony to kick off Coway-supplier greenhouse gas inventory system and voluntary reduction agreement at its R&D Center located in Seoul National University on August 12th. Among the 100 attendees was Sang-Hun Kim, Chairman of Coway Environment Committee and Environment Quality Institute, and Ki-Choon Lee, head of Environment Technology Institute. On the supplier attendee list was Sang-Yul Lee, CEO of EPS Korea, Inc., Jae-Soo Jung, CEO of Eco eye, and national project manger from Korea National Cleaner Production Center for Ministry of Knowledge and Economy was also present at the ceremony.   The green home appliance maker pledged a two-year GHG inventory support program, in an effort to help its 50 suppliers reduce carbon emissions voluntarily.   The program includes diagnosis of process and equipment, producing improvement proposals, quantifying total amount of carbon discharged into the atmosphere, as well as developing experts, all of which will be customized for each recipient company. Coway also aims to expand such tailor-made support to some 100 companies by 2012.   The appliance maker is being recognized as a leader in green management. Korea Energy Management Corporation certified Coway’s GHG inventory and management system last June and the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy have awarded budgetary support for the system.   GHG inventory is expected to deliver environmental cost savings of up to 10 billion won per year, develop in-house low carbon management experts, and promote environmental awareness within the organization. Success of the project is expected to bring triple dividend of economic and environmental savings as well as organization capacity building.   Coway selected ‘Green Up 2009’ as its new management vision for this year and undertook aggressive campaigns to reduce its carbon footprint. The company is being noted as a leading green home appliance maker as it sweeps coveted awards and related certificates. It is the first in the industry to win carbon labeling certificate, and ‘eco-mark’ for food waste treatment system. Its bidet and air purifier received Energy Winner Award for three consecutive years and the company has been recognized for its best standby power level. On top of that, TUV SUD, EU’s official certification organization designated Coway’s Environment Technology Institute as RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances) testing institute, giving a boost to its global credibility.   Coway’s carbon reduction commitment is anticipated to gain momentum in the latter half of this year. Carbon labeling certification of 4 products including air purifier and bidet, development of carbon and ‘self-declaration’ labels, and voluntary MOU on waste are currently underway.   Sang-Hun Kim, Head of Coway Environment Quality Institute, emphasized “Low carbon, green growth must become an integral part an organization’s sustainable growth model. We have a true focus on development of low carbon energy technologies that boost energy efficiency and reduce standby power and this commitment is shared by our suppliers.”

coway carbonator : cool animation

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‘Suggestion Scheme’ up for Sale

- Coway’s ‘Imagination Ocean’ benchmarked and used by 60 companies - ‘Funology,’ adding fun to employee suggestion system – Sales revenue of ‘Imagination Ocean’ to be donated to charity organizations   As information and knowledge are increasingly becoming widely available, fresh and innovative ideas are replacing information as key drivers of growth and sustainability in the current ‘Ideas Economy.’ Organizations, therefore, are turning to staff suggestion system that tap the reservoir of ideas and creative thinking of all employees.     ‘Imagination Ocean,’ an employee suggestion website of Coway (www.coway.co.kr) has been offered to 18 suppliers including Nongshim, LS Cable, Hanbit Soft and is benchmarked by 42 companies, namely, KT, LG Electronics, and Kia Motors. Coway currently receives 1 million won from each company that wishes to adopt its suggestion system and every penny will be donated to charity organizations.   Coway’s suggestion website sets it apart from previous rigid suggestion schemes by adding ‘fun’ incentives, blurring the line between work and play.   Virtual shrimps (a shrimp is worth 100 won) are awarded for each contribution of ideas, and collector of 10,000 shrimps receives a virtual dolphin (a dolphin is worth 1 million won). Whoever makes the big catch wins a spot in overseas training program. The scheme also provides further incentives to participate by adding a three-tier grading system. Users are distinguished as crew members, boatswains, and captains according to the number of shrimps they collect.     Participation level is quite impressive. In just a month, 8,000 suggestions are generated and the number of shrimps awarded each month adds up to 270,000 (equivalent to 27 million won).   ‘Imagination Ocean’ is reaping tangible outcomes in the form of process improvement and work innovation. ‘A Proposal to Improve Production Line’ submitted in April was selected as the Best Idea of the Month and was implemented to boost production capacity of water purifier by more than 20% and delivers yearly labor cost savings of 350 million won.     Lee Sang Bin, Head of Management Innovation division stressed that “marriage between fun and technology or ‘funology’ is required for higher level of involvement and input,” and added, “Imagination Ocean offers a good blend of technology (web operation system) and ‘fun.’ We hope our system is shared with many and prove useful in boosting Korean companies’ competitiveness.”

Indoor Air Pollution Responsible for Allergic Disease and Asthma

- Professor Koutrakis of Harvard University, world renowned scholar in public health field, gave warning on indoor air pollution – More time spent indoors with poor air quality poses environmental health risks – Air cleaner removes 99% of fine particles and allergen, the most common triggers of allergies and asthma   The ‘air’ that we breathe in is not in any way less important than the food we take in. Continuous industrialization changed lifestyles to the point where modern people stay indoors for 20 hours a day. However, the level of awareness on indoor air pollution is still alarmingly low. Lifestyle changes now demand of us to give much deserved attention to air pollution, the level of attention that we pay to food hygiene.     Professor Petros Koutrakis of Harvard School of Public Health stressed the importance of indoor air quality management and announced performance test results for air cleaners against health-damaging pollutants at the research symposium held in Woongjin Coway R&D Center of Seoul National University on July 1st.   His presentation was meaningful in that effective measure to tackle increasing air pollution was discussed, and also in the sense that Harvard University verified performance level of a domestic air purifier. It is expected to breathe new life into the industry.   Professor Koutrakis of Harvard School of Public Health is a renowned scholar in ‘indoor air quality control’ and ‘public health’ field.   He warned against indifference to indoor air pollution and observed that large sensitive populations such as children and the elderly are suffering from environmental diseases caused by indoor air pollutants such as fine particles and allergen. World Health Organization estimates that indoor air pollution is responsible for 2.8 million deaths a year and over a billion people around the globe are exposed to indoor air pollutant levels 100 times higher than accepted guideline values.   Fine particles and allergen are two most common health-damaging pollutants that are directly responsible for environmental diseases such as allergic diseases and asthma.   Koutrakis has conducted performance tests on a Woongjin Coway product (AP-1008BH model) since last year and his test results show a 99% efficiency rating in removing indoor fine particles and allergen.   During his presentation, the professor acknowledged that although multiple environmental factors has to be taken into account, air purifiers are generally very effective in capturing indoor particulate matters such as fine particles and when special filters are employed, they are even successful in removing viruses and bacteria. He recommended air purifiers as a smart option to manage indoor air quality.   There are other easy yet useful tips for keeping indoor air clean and healthy. Based on Korean climate condition, indoor air is most fit when temperature is set at 23 degree (Celsius) and humidity is adjusted at 50% or below. To provide natural ventilation, must open windows for at least 30 minutes a day but when outdoor air is polluted by automobile combustion gas and other pollutant sources, air purifiers can be greatly useful in capturing such contaminants. One of the greatest enemies of indoor air is tobacco and purifying plants such as Ficus Benjamina and Dieffenbachia are proven be effective allies of healthy air.   Professor Koutrakis concluded his presentation by stating “Clean indoor air is essential for healthy life. And we need to see increased awareness and action on indoor air quality on the part of general public. I will continue to inform the public on the importance of managing indoor air and do my best to help people enjoy healthy and clean indoor work and life spaces.”

Types and Effectiveness of Air Purifiers

Thanks to increased awareness on air pollution in recent years, air purifiers have gained a must-have status at home. They owe this popularity to their ability to change indoor air and maintain it pleasantly clean and crisp. Some recently released models even boast their effectiveness in removing influenza viruses.   There are two basic types of air cleaners on the market: mechanical and electrostatic models. Mechanical types use fans to draw polluted air through a series of filters. And electrostatic models are further divided into purifiers that generate only negative ions and cleaners that generate both negative and positive ions simultaneously. Now let’s look deeper into these varying types of cleaners.   Mechanical type use fans to draw air through a series of filters made of special fibers that trap airborne contaminants. Air cleaners normally employ a combination of filters rather than a single one. HEPA filters are used in conjunction with pre-filters that trap large particles and activated carbon filters that eliminate odor.     HEPA filter was developed during the Second World War to remove and capture radioactive dust particles from the air which might escape and present a health hazard to the researchers. This first ever developed purifying model retain and filter out all particles from the air that passes through it down to 0.3 ㎛ (Micrometer) in size at an efficiency rating of at least 99.97%. Our nose and respiratory system can filter out airborne particles of 10㎛ or larger but particles as small as 0.3 ㎛ can pass easily into our respiratory system and lungs to cause multiple diseases. HEPA filters are proven to be effective in removing these fine particles.     HEPA filtration is recognized as one of the most efficient air filtration method known and proven to remove dust, bacteria, virus, pollen, cigarette smoke, asbestos particles and almost any other airborne pollutants. Its application is, therefore, not confined to air purifiers and air conditioning system. It is almost exclusively used in semiconductor processing, hospital operation room, laboratory, and pharmaceutical clean room and is among the most popular air filtration methods that are currently in existence today.   Electrostatic air cleaners take advantage of tendency for small particles to be attracted to electrically charged objects. High voltage is applied to ionize contaminants in the collected air and once particles are charged, they are attracted to objects with opposite charge. The charged particles then move to the collection section, where they encounter closely-spaced, oppositely-charged collector plates. Positively-charged particles attach to the negative plates and negative-charged particles attach to the positive plates.   This type of purifiers offer economic and environmental benefits over mechanical filters in the sense that collector plates can be used semi-permanently and there is no need for constant replacement of filters. But it is not without downside. Dust particles may fall off the plate and float back into the air if they are not regularly cleaned and their collection efficiency is known to lag behind mechanical filters.   Negative ion generator is said to bring “forest air” to sealed indoor spaces. This is a sort of an electrostatic precipitator that purifies the air by generating negative ions, which are highly concentrated in fresh air circulating in the mountain forests, by the sea, and especially waterfalls. This type of air purifiers generate negative ions that attach themselves to contaminants, which are usually positively charged, and neutralize them. Some purifiers ionize pollutants to give them negative charge so that they deposit on collector plate, wall, and floor. Of course, not all ion generators use electrostatic precipitation technology. Whatever method they employ, negative ion generators release negative ions that neutralize positively-charged dusts or positive ions.   The negative side effect of this model is the production of ozone. Ozone has its place in purifying the air by killing germs but in enclosed spaces, considerable amount of ozone production can have an adverse effect on our health.   Water-filtering air purifiers use water as filters and its adhesive force to capture dusts, irritants, and contaminants. It is known to be effective in capturing fine particles smaller than 0.3㎛ that even escape HEPA filters. Airborne particles in the collected air precipitate as they come in contact with water, and electrical methods as well as additives are normally added on to the system to enhance efficiency.   As this type of cleaners use water as filters, they require high maintenance. Water tank has to be cleaned and replaced with clean water regularly, not to mention the extra work of adding anti-bacterial solutions into the water. Otherwise, it can turn into a “production sink” for many harmful forms of bacteria and pollute the air that it is suppose to clean.

The History of Reverse Osmosis

The history of reverse osmosis water purification dates back to the 1940s, when the Second World War was at its peak. United States navy fought in the Pacific Ocean and water was a source of headache for the military forces. Back then, transportation was less advanced and supplying clean water for drinking, bathing, and laundry with numerous soldiers staying several years in such a large battle ground as the Pacific Ocean, seemed nearly as daunting as the War itself. The forces needed a device that extracts fresh water from the sea and this need lead to the development of water filters.     Reverse osmosis system originates from the first artificial osmosis developed by UCLA medical school in the early 1950s under the sponsorship of U.S. Department of Interior. Under normal osmotic pressure, solvent naturally moves from an area of low solute concentration, through a semi-permeable membrane, to an area of high solute concentration. Reverse osmosis involves applying pressure to reverse this natural flow of water, forcing the water to move from the more concentrate solution to the weaker. Therefore, when highly concentrated tap water is pushed through the membrane, low concentrate pure water is extracted.   RO membranes for reverse osmosis treatment are constructed from polypropylene materials. The membrane removes nearly every organic and inorganic contaminants, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals and any impurities whose size is larger than 0.0001μ (1 micron = a millionth of a meter). This is why water treated by reverse osmosis is pure in every sense.     Its considerably high rejection rates for a wide array of contaminants make RO membranes useful in oxygen/nitrogen separation, dialysis, and fuel cell, not to mention laboratories and semiconductor plants where extra pure water is required. Desalination, extracting pure water from salty water for drinking and domestic purposes, also involves reverse osmosis process. Its application has been expanded from its initial use in high-tech industry and for cleaning sophisticated electronic components to medical and now even to domestic use for safe drinking water.   Some 75% of water purifiers available on the Korean market adopt reverse osmosis system and reverse osmosis purifiers take up 50% market share in the United States, where the system was first developed.

COWAY’s new bidet: beatbox with BA-13

REAL fart beatbox
coway’s bidet was introduced with real beatbox