Page 167 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

Life Cycle Assessment: Principles, Practice and Prospects
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Table 11.3 Functional requirements met by Packaging Impact Quick Evaluation Tool (PIQET)
Requirement Features
Online access and use Internet-based, security/protection of company information, ability
to import archived files/data
Quick turn-around No longer than 20 minutes per assessment, default data for
non-available specific data
Easy to use Limits information input by operator, menu-driven, ‘Help’ function
Quick scan versus detailed Ability to short-cut and input specific data
evaluation
Environmental focus Integrates with company environmental management strategy
(menu choice list to select company objectives/indicators),
integrates with National Packaging Covenant KPI’s, targets and
reporting, demonstrates use of the Environmental Code of Practice
for Packaging, benchmarking ability on total packaging system and
individual components
Scientific credentials Life cycle assessment-based, case study validation against life cycle
assessment studies
KPI, key performance indicators

wider stakeholder group consists of commercial furniture manufacturers, industrial design-
ers, specifiers, and government and non-government stakeholder organisations.
Greenfly Online was developed from a paper-based tool which adopts a five-step approach.
The first step is the design concept, which involves high-level tracking of major material flows
from origin to end-of-life/recycling. Visual techniques and recording of the design process are
encouraged, along with conceptual comparisons. The second step involves the application of
common rules to identify which phases of the life cycle have the greatest overall impact, along
with relevant/potential environmental drivers for each phase, such as consumer demand,
industry/client needs or regulations. The third step involves further life cycle environmental
impact assessment at a more detailed level, reflecting the progression of the design process.
While not discounting the use of ‘full’ LCA in this process, Greenfly Online also provides
semi-quantitative estimation methods to follow as a means to achieve the assessment. Envi-
ronmental-indicator scores and basic information for common materials and processes are
included to assist in this. With an initial design and evaluation complete, the fourth step
provides life-cycle eco-design strategies to enable the designer to re-assess, re-design and re-
select materials to optimise environmental performance. Finally, the fifth step requires review
and reflection, plus the opportunity to complete documentation of the process and outcome.
Greenfly Online uses web 2.0 development technology and requires minimal user input to
translate LCA data into a selection of key environmental indicators displayed in real-time on
screen and in report format. Individual components are presented in a ‘tab’ style format from
general product information (e.g. name of designer, design brief and product images) to the
product life cycle, with individual pages for each life cycle phase:
s manufacture – material selection and manufacturing stage (Fig. 11.7)
s transport – defining transport options
s use – defining operational aspects
s end of life – detailing what happens at waste management.
An innovative aspect of Greenfly Online is ‘real time’ results data, presented as graphs on
the right-hand side of the page as the user develops a design scenario. As illustrated in Figure
11.7, a pie chart located on the right-hand side of the screen indicates the relative burdens of
different life cycle phases. The user can select which environmental indicator they wish to view

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