In a world where it is becoming increasingly more important, economically and ethically, to think and trade for the long-term, you can now find current and background information on the subject of sustainability once every quarter in perspective. Short, concise and relevant for practice. Get to know the latest innovations in sustainability management and profit from the "Best Practice" - solutions that will be regularly presented in perspective, along with current developments from the PE Europe network and expert opinions. Compact and clearly laid out. And available on the internet in an even more detailed version.

Sustainability is set in stone. In perspective, it's written.

In this first issue of perspective, we introduce you to the GaBi DfX and GaBi 4 i-report softwares. Discover the potential of these tools and see how Unilever profited from the i-report in the interview with Nuno Da Silva. Find out what's new in product compliance and in the communication of LCA/DfE. Get an insight into the sustainability software SoFi's capabilities and the dynamic development in this field and read an expert opinion on emissions trading. You'll also get to know some of PE Europe's co-operation and sales partners and naturally an overview of interesting appointments and a glance over the borders to international developments in sustainability management is not forgotten. We hope that perspective will give you new inspiration for your sustainability management and we'd be happy to hear your feedback since this is the only way we can satisfy your wishes even more sustainably. Happy reading!

Michael Betz
Managing Director of PE Europe

In a world where it is becoming increasingly more important, economically and ethically, to think and trade for the long-term, you can now find current and background information on the subject of sustainability once every quarter in perspective. Short, concise and relevant for practice. Get to know the latest innovations in sustainability management and profit from the "Best Practice" - solutions that will be regularly presented in perspective, along with current developments from the PE Europe network and expert opinions. Compact and clearly laid out. And available on the internet in an even more detailed version.

Sustainability is set in stone. In perspective, it's written.

In this first issue of perspective, we introduce you to the GaBi DfX and GaBi 4 i-report softwares. Discover the potential of these tools and see how Unilever profited from the i-report in the interview with Nuno Da Silva. Find out what's new in product compliance and in the communication of LCA/DfE. Get an insight into the sustainability software SoFi's capabilities and the dynamic development in this field and read an expert opinion on emissions trading. You'll also get to know some of PE Europe's co-operation and sales partners and naturally an overview of interesting appointments and a glance over the borders to international developments in sustainability management is not forgotten. We hope that perspective will give you new inspiration for your sustainability management and we'd be happy to hear your feedback since this is the only way we can satisfy your wishes even more sustainably. Happy reading!

Michael Betz
Managing Director of PE Europe

"In 2001, the International Chromium Development Association (ICDA) completed the first Life Cycle Inventory study for High Carbon Ferrochromium. In 2006, the ICDA decided to redo the whole exercise and commissioned a new LCI study from PE Europe GmbH using the GaBi 4 software and the web-questionnaire (see article on page 3). On March 6th 2006, the kick-off meeting was held in Brits, South Africa (for more information about the kickoff meeting please refer to www.icdachromium.com). Eight Member Companies of the ICDA from four different countries (Finland, India, Kazakhstan and South Africa) are participating in the new study representing more than 85 % of the world production of High Carbon Ferrochromium. The study will be finalized in the first half of 2007."