Page 170 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

Accelerating life cycle assessment uptake: life cycle management and ‘quick’ LCA tools

Figure 11.9 Screen shot of Greenfly Online resources page generated in portable document 157
format (PDF).

The PIQET case study illustrates the need to consider expertise, investment of time and
resources, and automation, intuitive application and assessment outcomes in quick LCA tool
development. Both case studies illustrate the importance of ease-of-use, accuracy, robustness
and reliability. The specific meaning and requirements inevitably vary by sector, organisation
and application. Therefore, research and development must be undertaken in connection with
a collaborative environment of stakeholders. Also essential are pre-existing drivers for envi-
ronmental performance in the chosen sector. The champions and participants in these drivers
must also be involved in the tool development. The Greenfly Online project developed from
the need to solve a range of barriers to uptake and demand by both designers and their clients.
Design is already information technology-intensive, so the digital platform is a good ‘fit’. Also,
the digital format enables easy automation of documentation and reporting, which is particu-
larly important in communicating outcomes of eco-design processes to clients and other
stakeholders. It also enables easy storage of results, ability to be searched and compared with
previous and other Greenfly runs, and importantly the ability to iterate easily at a detailed
level throughout the design process. The digital interface format may facilitate increased
adoption because it will reinforce the problem-solving nature of the eco-design process and be
easy to use. As a result, eco-design may be brought further forward in the design process.
As with many newly adopted technologies, quick LCA tools can be expected to have impacts
beyond those immediately planned. By definition, unforeseen adoptions and applications are
difficult to predict, but inevitably, business will look to use quick LCA information for com-
petitive advantage in a range of ways, while regulators may look to use such information in
establishing baseline performance or standards. Consumers’ growing demand for clear and
trustworthy environmental information can also be expected to affect the way in which quick

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