TL;DR: Shiok Kitchen Catering measures its carbon footprint using a documented Gate to Gate methodology, covering water, electricity, gas, diesel, and waste for every event. Emissions are reduced first through biodegradable packaging, food waste redistribution, and efficiency upgrades, then offset through Renewable Energy Certificates purchased from REDEX. The same approach applies across the full menu, from corporate buffets to weddings, and is backed by a published Sustainability Report and accreditations including SACEOS Gold and LowCarbonSG.
"Sustainable catering" gets thrown around a lot in Singapore right now, often without much behind it beyond a paper straw and a nice photo. Shiok Kitchen Catering's approach to carbon neutral catering is a bit more deliberate than that. It's built on actual measurement – tracking exactly how much carbon dioxide gets produced across an event, reducing what can be reduced, and offsetting the rest through verified renewable energy certificates. Here's a look at how that process actually works, and what it means whether you're booking a corporate buffet, a wedding, or a quiet baby shower at home.
What Does "Carbon Neutral" Actually Mean for a Caterer?
Being carbon neutral means balancing out the CO₂ emissions a business produces, rather than pretending they don't exist. For Shiok Kitchen Catering, that means acknowledging that every event – whether it's a MICE event, an institutional catering contract, or a simple tea break order – comes with a genuine carbon footprint. The goal isn't to erase that footprint with marketing language, it's to measure it honestly, then reduce and offset it.
How Shiok Kitchen Measures Its Carbon Footprint
The calculation process follows what's called a "Gate to Gate" methodology, meaning only the emissions produced within Shiok Kitchen Catering's own operational site are considered, rather than the entire supply chain. It breaks down into four steps:
- Water, electricity, and gas consumption – calculated per event based on average hours or days of use
- Diesel consumption – tracked using location tracking applications that determine the exact distance drivers travel to deliver food, which matters just as much for a single mini buffet drop-off as it does for a large-scale event
- Waste produced – the total food and general waste generated at an event, gathered by the on-ground team, along with water wasted during cooking and service
- CO₂ emissions (CO₂e) – calculated using an Emission to Cert Conversion Table, which determines how many Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are needed to offset the emissions, purchased from REDEX at a rate where each REC accounts for 405 CO₂e
It's a methodical process, published in detail in the Sustainability Report 2025 for anyone who wants to see the numbers rather than take the claim at face value.
Reducing Before Offsetting
Offsetting only tells half the story. Shiok Kitchen Catering's broader sustainability pledge puts the emphasis on reducing emissions first, through smarter menu planning, more efficient deliveries, local sourcing, and cutting down waste, before relying on carbon offsets to cover the gap.
A few concrete examples of what that's looked like in practice:
- Food waste management – working with food rescue partners The Red Collective and Summit Rescues, with over 5,700 kg of safe, untouched food redistributed in 2024 alone, plus a food waste upcycling partnership with Ento Industries turning organic waste into animal feed and organic fertiliser instead of landfill
- Packaging – around 75% of packaging was biodegradable in 2024, with cornware, food-grade paper, kraft bags, and compostable trays now the default, including bio-degradable bento boxes alongside the executive lacquered bento range
- Greenhouse gas emissions – overall carbon emissions were reduced by 1.7% and energy use intensity by 3.8% in FY2024, alongside renewable energy certificates, more energy-efficient kitchen equipment, and plans to convert the delivery fleet to electric vehicles
Carbon Neutral Catering Across the Whole Menu
What makes this approach meaningful is that it isn't ring-fenced to one product line. The same measurement and reduction process sits behind the full range of services, from sit-down dining and canape receptions to live stations, high tea buffets, and breakfast buffets. For companies specifically looking to align their catering with wellness or environmental values, the healthy buffet menu and the Shiok Healthy Tingkat series are worth a look too. There's also a dedicated Carbon Neutral Buffet Menu for clients who want their event's sustainability credentials built in from the menu selection stage, not bolted on afterwards.
For events where warming equipment is a concern – home gatherings, office pantries, or venues that restrict open flames – pairing a mini buffet order with the Shiok! Self-Heating Box is another small way the catering experience stays practical without extra electrical load. Even corporate gifting and BBQ orders and celebration catering sit under the same sustainability approach.
Why This Should Matter to Anyone Booking Catering in Singapore
Plenty of Singapore businesses now have their own ESG commitments to answer to, and catering is one of those line items that's easy to overlook until someone asks for the numbers. Working with a caterer that already measures, reports, and reduces its carbon footprint takes that pressure off procurement and sustainability teams alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does choosing carbon neutral catering cost more than a standard buffet order?
Carbon neutral practices are built into how Shiok Kitchen operates day to day, from packaging choices to delivery planning, rather than being an expensive premium add-on. For an exact quote based on your event size and menu, our team can talk you through pricing when you place your enquiry.
Is the carbon neutral menu limited to certain event types, like corporate events only?
No. The same carbon-conscious approach applies across the full range of services, including weddings, baby showers, breakfast catering, and MICE events. The dedicated Carbon Neutral Buffet Menu is simply an option for clients who want sustainability front and centre in their menu selection.
How does Shiok Kitchen verify its carbon offsetting claims rather than just stating them?
Emissions are calculated using a documented Gate to Gate methodology covering water, electricity, gas, diesel, and waste, converted using an Emission to Cert Conversion Table, and offset through Renewable Energy Certificates purchased from REDEX. The full breakdown is published in the Sustainability Report 2025 for anyone who wants to see the methodology in detail.
What happens to food waste from a Shiok Kitchen event?
Safe, untouched food is redistributed through food rescue partners The Red Collective and Summit Rescues, while organic waste is processed through a partnership with Ento Industries and converted into animal feed and organic fertiliser rather than sent to landfill.
Can I request biodegradable packaging specifically for my event?
Biodegradable packaging – including cornware, food-grade paper, kraft bags, and compostable trays – is already the default across most of the menu, including the bio-degradable bento range, unless a specific alternative is requested. You can confirm packaging preferences with our team when placing your order through the order process.
About Shiok Kitchen Catering
Shiok Kitchen Catering has been part of Singapore's catering scene since 2004, growing from its roots serving Thai food into a caterer offering everything from local favourites to Chinese cuisine and Western gourmet dishes. Backed by a well-trained catering team and a culinary direction led by Culinary Director Chef Immanuel Tee and Executive Chef Kenny, the company is MUIS halal-certified and ISO accredited, with a client list that includes DBS, OCBC, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, KPMG, PwC, EY, NUS, NTU, SMU, Changi Airport Group, and the Esplanade.
On the sustainability side specifically, Shiok Kitchen holds a SACEOS Gold Sustainability Certification, LowCarbonSG accreditation, an ESBN Green Badge, and Farm-to-Table Mid Tier recognition – accreditations that sit alongside the measurable reductions and food waste initiatives detailed in the Sustainability Pledge and full Sustainability Report 2025.
To find out more about Shiok Kitchen Catering's background and accreditations, or to enquire about carbon neutral catering for your next event, contact the team at sales@skcatering.com, call 6411 4994, or reach out through the contact page.
