Repurpose It

Waging war on plastic and paper cups: Company with a Houston tie offers a plantcup alternative

Repurpose Compostable cutlery and cold cups will be available on April 22.
Corey Scholibo attended St. Mark's and Episcopal High School before going tocollege at USC.
Scholibo says that Repurpose Compostable coffee cups are a great option forconsumers, whether "living green" is a priority or not.

Want the ease of disposable dishes, minus the guilt and the petroleum? Repurpose Compostables offers an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to disposable cups and cutlery with cups made out of plants.

Lauren Gropper noticed the exorbitant waste produced while working on film sets in Los Angeles, and formed the company in 2009, along with Houston-native Corey Scholibo, who stepped in as co-founder and chief marketing officer.

"When you walk into a Target, paper and plastic are the only two options," Scholibo tells CultureMap.

"Green living is only limited by your own volition," Scholibo says.

Just as the demand has grown in recent years for BPA-free products, gluten-free options and green cleaning supplies, Scholibo says, so has the interest in petroleum-free, biodegradable food and drink packaging — especially within the retail industry.

The Repurpose insulated hot cup has been well-received since its debut at Bed Bath & Beyond, Abe's Market and other retail locations last year, and Houston has been one of the company's best markets. A pack of 12 cups with lids costs just $4.99 and, according to Scholibo, offers a premium product with a great look and feel, in addition to "unbeatable" heat retention.

And, since it is made from plants, it breaks down in an industrial compost setting — something that can't be said of the traditional Styrofoam coffee cup.

"Green living is only limited by your own volition," says Scholibo, who suggests that consumers diligent about making a difference find a local industrial composter.

Repurpose will launch its line of durable, compostable cold cups and cutlery at Abe's Market on Sunday, in celebration of Earth Day.

unspecified series568664030

bowled over

Houston Chopped champ's casual Indian restaurants will shutter in Midtown

Courtesy of Pok Pok Po

undefined

Two Indian-inspired fast casual restaurants will soon serve their final meals. Midtown eateries Bol and Pok Pok Po will close after service on Sunday, August 29.

Opened in late 2024 (Pok Pok Po) and early 2025 (Boil) by Kahani Social Group — the Houston hospitality group behind Amrina, a fine dining Indian restaurant in The Woodlands, and Kitchen Rumors, an eclectic, Indian-inspired restaurant near downtown — Pok Pok Po is a fried chicken restaurant, while Bol is a build-your-own-bowl concept. Both restaurants featured menus created by chef Jassi Bindra, a Chopped champion and Top Chef contestant.

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who embraced Pok Pok Po and Bol and gave us the opportunity to introduce a different, more casual expression of Indian cuisine to Houston,” co-founder Surpreet Singh said in a statement. “Our time in Midtown gave us invaluable insight into how guests interact with these concepts and, more importantly, reinforced our belief in both brands.”

While the brick-and-mortar locations of both restaurants are closing, Kahani Social Group still sees opportunities for both restaurants. In the short term, some of Pok Pok Po’s dishes will be available in The Woodlands for delivery via third-party apps. A Houston location with convenient parking and a drive-through is also under consideration, according to press materials.

“This isn’t goodbye to Pok Pok Po or Bol,” Singh adds. “We have a vision for their future and are looking forward to finding the right opportunities to bring them back in ways that make them even more convenient and accessible. We hope everyone will come see us one more time in Midtown and stay tuned for what’s next.”

All of the employees at both restaurants are being offered positions at the company’s other restaurants.

news-you-can-eat closings chefs