This week I talked with Gloria Oh (senior, biology) about her recent success with the 2023 Andrews Pitch Competition, a platform for students to present their innovative ideas for new businesses, products, or services to a panel of judges, to learn more about her groundbreaking idea “Refill To Reduce,” her mission, and her future plans.
What is the mission of “Refill to Reduce?”
The ultimate mission of this idea is to reduce plastic waste. A refillery is a shop where people can stop by with their reusable bottles like plastic bottles or glass bottles and fill them with whatever they need such as shampoo, body wash, and laundry detergent. Since people are using what they already have, they're not contributing to the production of new plastic bottles, which is why our pitch competition title was called “Refill to Reduce.” We want people to refill whatever they need while reducing the plastic waste that would have otherwise been caused if they didn’t visit a refillery.
What inspired you to join the Pitch Competition?
In February, there was an article in the Student Movement where I interviewed Dr. Matias Soto, the Director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. I was inspired to talk with him regarding my idea to see if it was even pitch-worthy. At that point, it was just an idea and he encouraged me to work on it. I asked my club members Ariana Coast (senior, biology) and Sarah Wolf (junior, biology) if they could help me. My officers and I made a survey to ask the students if they were interested in a refillery on campus or in the community. We held a small refillery station right before Spring Break, worked on the application, and turned it in. We got the semifinal result and then went to the finals!
How did you come up with this idea?
During my entire four years in college, I didn't have a car; I just got my license over the summer. Not having a refillery station made it hard for me to get basic necessities and the Gazebo can be pricey. Amazon is an option, but I felt bad about buying new plastic bottles every time I needed a refill. I thought it would be nice to have a refillery on campus and I was low-key hoping someone else could do it during my senior year. I heard about all the innovation classes that Dr. Soto was offering, but I couldn't take any more classes because this was my last semester. When I heard about the pitch competition I thought, “This is my last chance to see the change that I wanted to see all my four years in college,” which is what motivated me to enter the competition.
What is your vision for how this idea can transform the Andrews community?
I really want it to happen on campus because I want to help students to experience a low-waste lifestyle. Recycling, as far as I have experienced at Andrews, has been minimal, and I’m a bit doubtful of what happens with all the recycling because recyclables can just be sent off to different places. I also want to create a place where people can buy more affordable daily necessities compared to pricier options on campus. You don't even have to wait for delivery; you can just walk right up if it’s on campus to get whatever you need, which makes the refillery accessible, affordable, and sustainable.
Your project was honored with the social innovation reward, a special award category in the AU Pitch Competition that recognizes innovative ideas that aim to make a positive impact on society. How do you plan on advancing your project after winning this award?
Ariana and I won $9,000 in total; $4,000 was from winning fourth place in the pitch competition and the $5,000 came from winning the social innovation award. The condition to receive that prize was to make the refillery happen in Benton Harbor and we agreed to it. My priority is to find a place where we could set up a refillery in the Benton Harbor region where the need is the greatest. Our second option for the Berrien Springs community is approaching Neighbor To Neighbor because they were open to having a space for us to set up the refillery station. But right now, I’m really hoping Andrews would be willing to offer us a space to set this up.
What is some advice you would give to students who are interested in developing an idea?
I think students, regardless of their major, should think about making the change that they want to see in the world. Also, it's going to be much easier to start making that change while they're in school. Use all the resources Andrews has to offer, such as your professors, the people around you, and professional networks. Reach out to one person, and that person can open doors to more people that can offer you help. My first step was going to Dr. Soto, which led me to meet someone who is a professional for a nonprofit. Doing this can ultimately widen your perspective and your network.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.