Our society is becoming more vulnerable to environmental hazards and disasters. Global environmental changes coupled with aggressive expansion of the industry have led to a spiraling downward effect which has caused more harm than good to Mother Earth. The increased frequency of tropical cyclones, rough seas, floods, volcanic eruptions are evidence of the worsening interaction of hazards and global environmental changes.

The cataclysmic effect caused by such environmental transformations calls for creation of environmental benchmarks and awareness. However, implementation of ecological benchmarks may be challenging. There is a proper need to establish the necessary rules and expectations. There needs to be adequate space for safety and effective learning; management and material for effective training; progress records and curriculum with proper reinforcement and correction.

Ivory Kitchen and its role on the Environmental front…

It has been the endeavor of our company from day one of operations to provide state of the art facilities and machinery in all our projects so as to facilitate a pollution free environment. Prevention and control of Water and Air Pollution has been of utmost importance to PDK Shenaz Hotels Pvt Ltd and in order to incorporate a pollution free system, Ivory Kitchen began a long and rigorous activity of getting itself ISO & HACCP certified.

ISO refers to an International Organisation for Standardisation. International standardization ensures a set of industry-wide criteria that apply consistently to material classification, product manufacture and service provision. International Standards provide a common reference point to facilitate trade and transfer of technology between suppliers and their customers.

A rigid six month implementation routine began that involved the creation of a 130 page integrated Quality manual, two detailed product manuals featuring recipes and process flows, rigorous training schedules, staff motivation exercises, Supplier ratings, equipment calibrations, water controls, energy savings, validation and verification of Critical Control Points, defining environmental aspects and their impacts, creation of standardized formats and controlled documentations, on site safety and various quality and environment enhancing activities.

The external Audit was conducted by the leader in Accreditation Agencies, BSI. A knowledgeable team comprising of three Auditors from across the country held a two day on-site verification over the 5th and 6th of September 2005. Satisfactory execution and successful installation of the integrated systems led to the following prestigious Systems being rewarded to Ivory Kitchen -

ISO 9001:2000 for Quality Management Systems;
ISO 14001:2004 for Environment Management Systems;
HACCP for Food Safety

Environmental Awards and Recognition

The implementation of the above three systems is the first for any stand alone Restaurant property in India. This feat was further recognized by the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India when Ivory Kitchen was awarded the prestigious "ENVIRONMENT CHAMPION AMONG INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS" in a glittering Awards ceremony that was part of the FHRAI Golden Jubilee Annual Convention held in Chennai between 15 and 17 October 2005. The award was received by Mr. Arvind Bhatnagar, Head of Operations and Mr. Pankaj Tandon, Head-Administration in Chennai on October 17, 2005.

A significant point to note in this regard is that this Award has been in existence since 2000, however, no Restaurant had been awarded the same since its inception. Ivory Kitchen is the first property that was eligible for the same and to have won the award.