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CBS 8: USD Grad Student Wins $15K Scholarship for Eco-Friendly Hair Ties Made From Pineapple Leaves
Fifteen million hair ties are tossed daily in the U.S. One student's solution to that plastic problem just won her $15,000.
SAN DIEGO — Fifteen million hair ties are lost or tossed each day in the United States alone. For USD grad student Sage Dobby, that staggering statistic sparked an idea that just won her a $15,000 scholarship.
Dobby co-founded Piña Designs, a company creating the world's first biodegradable, plastic-free hair ties made from discarded pineapple leaves. On Friday, she pitched her sustainable solution at the University of San Diego's 7th Annual Fowler Business Concept Challenge and took home the grand prize.
"We wanted to create a product that helped women have healthier hair, but when they lost that hair tie, it didn't leave a negative impact on the planet," Dobby said.