345
2.3.1 Methodology
The importance of life cycle assessment for external communication is likely to
increase in the future. While EcodEX is intended for internal decision-making, consumer communication teams may want to use the results for external communication as well. Therefore, it is important that the methodology in the tool is as closely
aligned with externally-developed methodologies as possible. This is not a straightforward task because external methodologies are subject to change and not all
requirements are known in suffi cient detail. The ISO 14040 sets the frame, and the
ENVIFOOD protocol (Food SCP RT 2013 ) gives additional specifi cations for the
food and beverage sector. With the on-going Product Environmental Footprint
(PEF) initiative at the European level ( European Commission 2013 ), a series of
Product Category Rules (PCR) will be considered in the tool development. A technical constraint for the tool is therefore able to follow the rapid evolution of the
methodology.
2.3.2 Data
There are about 10,000 of ingredient specifi cations in the recipe management system. These specifi cations had to be matched with a reduced number (couple hundred) available life cycle inventory (LCI) datasets. The need for representative data
is critical. Until very recent, the access to good quality LCI profi les was an issue in
the food and beverage sector. To address this challenge, Nestlé partnered with external stakeholders to initiate the World Food LCA Database, a multi-company and
authority-initiative, led by the consulting fi rm Quantis, and the research center
Agroscope, to mutually develop quality food data (Peano et al. 2012 ). This project
will lead to the development of hundreds of specifi c LCI profi les in the fi eld of food
and beverage, feeding EcodEX, and increasing the accuracy of LCAs. Other database projects such as Agri-footprint have also produced datasets, leaving us with the
challenge of data harmonization (methodology, format).
Both the evolution of the methodology and the generation or use of new data
leads to two main challenges. The fi rst, which has been briefl y discussed above, is
to ensure that the tool is capable of following the evolution of methodologies and
updating data. The second challenge is to make sure that the process to update and
deploy these changes is compatible with the way the tool is used. In particular, an
update could have an infl uence on a decision that is currently being taken or has just
been taken by a designer. This therefore implies having a tool to manage data,
including quality guidelines or a validation process, for instance, as well as a process to test, update, inform, and support users. Nestlé has developed its own data
management guidelines and has a data quality manager.
25 Life Cycle Management as a Way to Operationalize the Creating Shared Value…
2.3.1 Methodology
The importance of life cycle assessment for external communication is likely to
increase in the future. While EcodEX is intended for internal decision-making, consumer communication teams may want to use the results for external communication as well. Therefore, it is important that the methodology in the tool is as closely
aligned with externally-developed methodologies as possible. This is not a straightforward task because external methodologies are subject to change and not all
requirements are known in suffi cient detail. The ISO 14040 sets the frame, and the
ENVIFOOD protocol (Food SCP RT 2013 ) gives additional specifi cations for the
food and beverage sector. With the on-going Product Environmental Footprint
(PEF) initiative at the European level ( European Commission 2013 ), a series of
Product Category Rules (PCR) will be considered in the tool development. A technical constraint for the tool is therefore able to follow the rapid evolution of the
methodology.
2.3.2 Data
There are about 10,000 of ingredient specifi cations in the recipe management system. These specifi cations had to be matched with a reduced number (couple hundred) available life cycle inventory (LCI) datasets. The need for representative data
is critical. Until very recent, the access to good quality LCI profi les was an issue in
the food and beverage sector. To address this challenge, Nestlé partnered with external stakeholders to initiate the World Food LCA Database, a multi-company and
authority-initiative, led by the consulting fi rm Quantis, and the research center
Agroscope, to mutually develop quality food data (Peano et al. 2012 ). This project
will lead to the development of hundreds of specifi c LCI profi les in the fi eld of food
and beverage, feeding EcodEX, and increasing the accuracy of LCAs. Other database projects such as Agri-footprint have also produced datasets, leaving us with the
challenge of data harmonization (methodology, format).
Both the evolution of the methodology and the generation or use of new data
leads to two main challenges. The fi rst, which has been briefl y discussed above, is
to ensure that the tool is capable of following the evolution of methodologies and
updating data. The second challenge is to make sure that the process to update and
deploy these changes is compatible with the way the tool is used. In particular, an
update could have an infl uence on a decision that is currently being taken or has just
been taken by a designer. This therefore implies having a tool to manage data,
including quality guidelines or a validation process, for instance, as well as a process to test, update, inform, and support users. Nestlé has developed its own data
management guidelines and has a data quality manager.
25 Life Cycle Management as a Way to Operationalize the Creating Shared Value…