Dr Karli Verghese- Manager Sustainable Products and Packaging

Karli has been working with the Centre for Design at RMIT University since November 2002. She is involved in research encompassing life cycle assessments, product stewardship and eco-design projects and working with clients in developing qualitative and quantitative tools to assist in environmental decision making. She is project manager for the development of a web-based tool for product designers - the Rapid Assessment Tool. She is also a key researcher in the Sustainable Packaging Alliance (SPA) and was the Product Development Manager for the first version of PIQET© - the Packaging Impact Quick Evaluation Tool, an online life cycle based decision support tool for the packaging supply chain. She is now leading the project development to expand PIQET so it can be used internationally.

Karli was the founding Secretary of the Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society (ALCAS) (2001-05), President (2005-06), and co-writer of ALCAS columns in the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. Karli completed her PhD thesis in early 2003 entitled Environmental Life Cycle Costing in the Australian Food Packaging Supply Chain. Prior to working at the Centre, Karli worked at the Centre for Packaging, Transportation and Storage at Victoria University on behalf of the CRC for International Food Manufacture and Packaging Science.

Research projects that Karli has been involved in:
• Packaging Impact Quick Evaluation Tool (PIQET) (2004 – current) online life cycle decision support tool for the packaging supply chain (company sponsors for first online version Cadbury Schweppes, Lion Nathan, Masterfoods Australia, Nestle Australia, Simplot Australia)
• Rapid Assessment Tool (RAT) – online tool decision support tool for product designers (2006 – current)
• National Eco-Design Curriculum for Industrial Design Students (2005-07)
• Study of factors contributing to dispersal of littered plastic shopping bags for the Department of Environment and Heritage, Commonwealth Government of Australia (2006)
• Preparation of a Pilot Plastic Wastes Resource Map for Victoria – Stage 1 for the Plastics and Chemical Industry Association (2006)
• Life cycle assessment of beverage packaging systems for Cadbury Schweppes (2006)
• Life cycle assessment of packaging systems for National Foods Limited (2005-06)
• Environmental rating of different packaging systems for Cadbury Schweppes (2005-6)
• Development of environmental checklist and guidelines and training of packaging technologists and marketers for Nestle Australia (2004-06)
• The Impacts of degradable plastic bags in Australia for the Department of Environment and Heritage, Commonwealth Government of Australia (2005)
• HeadStart Program for Industrial Designers (2005)
• Life cycle impact data for commercial and industrial and construction and demolition waste for EcoRecycle Victoria (2005)
• Industrial Packaging Supply Chains report for EcoRecycle Victoria (2003-5)
• Life cycle assessment of different park furniture for Melbourne City Council (2004)
• Comparative LCA of Plantic degradable polymer and alternative polymers for Plantic Technologies (2004)
• Life cycle assessment of paint packaging systems for Dulux Australia (2004)
• Life cycle assessment of different confectionary packaging systems for Cadbury Schweppes (2004)
• Development of environmental rating matrix for different fabrics for Laine Furnishings (2004)
• Life cycle assessment of two office workstations for Zenith Interiors and Eveready Partitions (2004)
• Evaluation of National Packaging Covenant action plans and annual reports for the National Packaging Covenant Council (2003)
• Life Cycle Assessment of Waste and Resource Recovery Options (including energy from waste) for EcoRecycle Victoria (2003)