Nicolina Pappas was 8 years old when a disturbing video changed what she thought about something as ordinary as a drinking straw. The Illinois girl had seen the viral footage of researchers removing a plastic straw from a sea turtle's nose. Instead of simply giving up plastic straws herself, Pappas began thinking about how she could convince other people to do the same. She switched to a reusable metal straw, sewed a small cloth pouch to protect it and then started making more.
She sold the pouches with reusable straws and directed the money toward conservation.
