BOCA, a multi-award-winning restaurant and pioneer in the culinary landscape of the UAE, proudly announces its attainment of a prestigious three-star rating in the globally recognized Food Made Good Standard. This accolade, awarded by The Sustainable Restaurant Association, underscores BOCA’s unwavering commitment to effecting positive change for both people and the planet.
Earlier this year, BOCA subjected its sustainability practices to the rigorous scrutiny of the Food Made Good Standard, only to achieve the highest possible rating—a first for the UAE and the region and aligning BOCA with a select group of 70 global hospitality establishments that have achieved three stars.
Managing Director of The SRA, Juliane Caillouette Noble, said, “We are so pleased to award BOCA with a superb three stars in the Food Made Good Standard. This is a first for the UAE, and Omar is a true leader in this region, inspiring others to take action. Omar, Chef Patricia, and the team should be very proud of this significant achievement. It’s also fantastic to see that they truly recognize that sustainability is a journey: while BOCA is already doing some exceptional work in this space, they’re not prepared to rest on their laurels. Their commitment to continuous improvement is exactly what we at The SRA love to see, and we look forward to seeing many more impressive initiatives from BOCA still to come.”
BOCA’s sustainability journey commenced nine years ago with the restaurant’s inception. Today, responsible sourcing, conscientious waste management, resource conservation, community contribution, and purposeful measurement and reporting are integral components of the operational ethos.
Omar Shihab, Chief Sustainability Officer and Founder of BOCA, reflects on the exhaustive evaluation process, stating, “The Food Made Good evaluation was exceptionally rigorous, necessitating a deep dive into our practices across Sourcing, Society, and the Environment. Eleven detailed criteria, spanning traceability, biodiversity, water and energy use, waste policies, and internal human resource practices, were meticulously examined as part of the Standard.”
BOCA’s exemplary performance across all assessed areas—Environment, Sourcing, and Society—is underscored by key highlights:
Responsible Sourcing: BOCA prominently features local ingredients on its menu, complemented by an illustrated guide detailing each ingredient and its producer.
Environmental Impact: Committing to sustainability, BOCA sources 100% of its energy from renewable sources and employs a dedicated Waste Officer to monitor and reduce waste output.
Social Engagement: Beyond supporting local communities and charities such as marine conservation non-profit Azraq, Gulf for Good, Tarahum for Gaza by The Emirates Red Crescent, and the K9 Friends Annual Puppy Ball, BOCA backs Dibba Bay Oyster’s reef-building project, shares monthly climate and sustainability briefings with team, sponsors annual staff participation at MAD Academy in Copenhagen, provides career development opportunities and encourages volunteering – incl. beach clean-ups!
While BOCA takes pride in the well-deserved three-star rating, it acknowledges that the pursuit of sustainability is a continuous journey. The Food Made Good Standard serves as a guide, facilitating ongoing improvements for global hospitality businesses. Omar Shihab emphasizes, “The Food Made Good standard process has been an invaluable learning experience, prompting the formulation of sourcing policies, energy consumption reduction practices, and plans to enhance working conditions in the restaurant.”
Immediate action plans derived from the Food Made Good report include establishing traceability for key ingredients, increasing plant-based options, procuring environmentally certified produce, implementing health-centric menu strategies, setting water-use reduction targets, and adopting non-toxic cleaning practices.
BOCA remains persistent in its commitment to sustainability, embracing the ongoing evolution catalysed by the Food Made Good Standard as an opportunity for continuous improvement.
To receive a copy of BOCA’s The Food Made Good Standard report get in touch with Omar on omar@boca.ae
