Talking with Nuno Da Silva, Unilever SEAC, Colworth, Great Britain

What was the reason for developing a new tool?
First of all, the i-report is not a new tool; it is an addition to the GaBi 4 software. Unilever decided to use GaBi 4 because it is a very powerful LCA software. However, the potential to communicate LCA results to product innovators was very limited. The development of i-reports allows us to create targeted environmental evaluation tools.

So you use i-report as a tool to develop DfE tools?
Exactly. To give an example I'll explain the Packaging Environmental Evaluation Tool (PEET). This tool allows packaging designers to perform rapid 'do-it-yourself' evaluations of alternative design options and simultaneously generate full LCA reports. How did we do that? We developed a large and precise LCA system model of packaging, including materials, manufacturing techniques, transportation and energy supply. Then we created parameters to control the model, like weight of material, transport distances, country of energy supply etc. With i-report we can then reduce the complexity of the LCA model to just the few aspects that are interesting to the user.

But this does not solve the problem of communication!
That's right. The next step is to format a report. We can create report elements like text, chapters, charts, and tables which allow the explanation and visualisation of results. Better or worse environmental impacts of the compared options are further visualized with a colour code. The designers get the tool and can do their evaluations and reports independently of the GaBi software,' just in time' with their day to day work.

Target reached?
I would say yes, definitely. GaBi 4 i-report substantially enhances the integration of environmental aspects in Unilever's decision making, with a faster, more engaging and targeted LCA.

www.vito.be/erscp2005/documents/papers/PAPER099.PDF
www.unilever.com/ourvalues/environmentandsociety/

Talking with Nuno Da Silva, Unilever SEAC, Colworth, Great Britain

What was the reason for developing a new tool?
First of all, the i-report is not a new tool; it is an addition to the GaBi 4 software. Unilever decided to use GaBi 4 because it is a very powerful LCA software. However, the potential to communicate LCA results to product innovators was very limited. The development of i-reports allows us to create targeted environmental evaluation tools.

So you use i-report as a tool to develop DfE tools?
Exactly. To give an example I'll explain the Packaging Environmental Evaluation Tool (PEET). This tool allows packaging designers to perform rapid 'do-it-yourself' evaluations of alternative design options and simultaneously generate full LCA reports. How did we do that? We developed a large and precise LCA system model of packaging, including materials, manufacturing techniques, transportation and energy supply. Then we created parameters to control the model, like weight of material, transport distances, country of energy supply etc. With i-report we can then reduce the complexity of the LCA model to just the few aspects that are interesting to the user.

But this does not solve the problem of communication!
That's right. The next step is to format a report. We can create report elements like text, chapters, charts, and tables which allow the explanation and visualisation of results. Better or worse environmental impacts of the compared options are further visualized with a colour code. The designers get the tool and can do their evaluations and reports independently of the GaBi software,' just in time' with their day to day work.

Target reached?
I would say yes, definitely. GaBi 4 i-report substantially enhances the integration of environmental aspects in Unilever's decision making, with a faster, more engaging and targeted LCA.

www.vito.be/erscp2005/documents/papers/PAPER099.PDF
www.unilever.com/ourvalues/environmentandsociety/