prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA

prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA, MgA. Roman Kovář

15150 Ústav designu

Souhrn Tato studie prezentuje srovnávací hodnocení životního cyklu (LCA) šesti komerčně dostupných formátů obalů pracích prostředků na evropském trhu se zaměřením na environmentální dopady samotných obalových systémů. Hodnoceny byly následující formáty: prací prášek v kartonovém obalu, tekutý detergent v HDPE lahvi, koncentrovaný tekutý detergent v LDPE/PET refill sáčku, kapsle v PP obalu, kapsle v kartonovém obalu a prací listy v LDPE obalu. Studie byla provedena v souladu s normami ISO 14040 a ISO 14044 s využitím databáze Ecoinvent 3.10 a metody ReCiPe 2016 midpoint (H). Funkční jednotkou byl jeden standardní prací cyklus pro 4 – 5 kg prádla. Výsledky ukazují významné rozdíly mezi jednotlivými formáty z hlediska spotřeby materiálu i dopadů na životní prostředí. Nejnižší environmentální zátěž vykázaly prací listy, které dosáhly hodnoty 1,967 g CO₂ ekv. na jednu dávku, což představuje snížení dopadu na změnu klimatu o 73,6 % ve srovnání s tekutým detergentem v HDPE lahvi. Nízké dopady byly zaznamenány rovněž u kapslí v kartonovém obalu a koncentrovaných refill systémů. Naopak nejvyšší dopady vykázaly tekuté detergenty v pevných plastových lahvích. Analýza životního cyklu potvrdila dominantní vliv těžby a výroby primárních materiálů obalů, zatímco vysoká míra recyklace kartonových obalů významně snižovala výsledné environmentální zatížení. Studie potvrzuje, že dematerializace obalů, vysoká koncentrace produktu a využití recyklovatelných materiálů představují účinné strategie pro snižování environmentálních dopadů detergentních obalových systémů. Výsledky současně ukazují, že nové formáty, zejména prací listy, mohou představovat významný příspěvek k naplňování cílů evropské politiky oběhového hospodářství a regulace obalových odpadů. Klíčová slova: LCA, obaly, detergenty, prací prášek, prací koncentrát, prací kapsle, prací listy

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prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA

15150 Ústav designu

Shifting one's diet towards more plant-based products is seen as one of the most efficient ways to mitigate one's environmental footprint. Yet, associated market adjustments between global demand and supply are rarely considered in environmental assessments and could counterbalance expected environmental benefits. In this context, we used an agro-economic model to predict global production changes following a demand shift towards EAT-Lancet guidelines for red meat and legume intake for the year 2030. We modelled four scenarios which apply to diverse regions, namely, the European Union (EU), EU and China, 40 % of the largest red meat eaters and the whole world. The environmental impact of these subsequent changes was quantified using consequential Life Cycle Assessment. Results show that significant environmental benefits could be achieved already when 40 % of the largest red meat-eating population shifts its diet. For greenhouse gas emissions, it translates into 1.02 GtCO(2) eq and 1.27 GtCO(2) eq saved in the 40 % and global diet shift scenarios, respectively. This latter is equivalent to the annual savings needed to reach net zero in 2050 for the Paris Agreement. Most of the local environmental benefits are linked to the regional specialisation of agricultural production. For example, there would be lower acidification in Asia due to the decrease in livestock production and lower aquatic eutrophication and ecotoxicity in the Americas due to the decrease in feed production. To reach such diet shifts and associated environmental benefits, context-specific solutions should be defined considering cultural and, global and regional physical constraints.

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prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA

15118 Ústav nauky o budovách, 15150 Ústav designu

The issue of transition and transformation of communities has a long history. Particularly in today's context of increasing aging trends, cities and communities are facing unprecedented multiple challenges that drive the transition to a more inclusive and sustainable future to enable community stakeholders to have a higher quality of life experience and to fulfil their visions for the future. This paper systematically reveals insights from the past of the ageing issue in the Yangfangdian community in Beijing through a multi-level perspective (MLP) framework created with local residents, a museum and design students to understand the historical foundations of the issue and its multiple dimensions (landscape, regime, and niche) to inform community residents' long-term visions of the future and systematic design interventions for the present day.

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doc. Ing. arch. David Tichý, Ph.D., prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA

15118 Ústav nauky o budovách, 15150 Ústav designu

The growth of globalisation has brought about dramatic changes in the lives of people around the world. It has led to economic growth, poverty reduction, and overall development in a number of countries, and has made it possible to formulate policies that take into account the interests of the wider global population. At the same time, however, globalisation has also increased global inequality, cultural homogenisation, loss of identity, increased consumption of non-renewable energy sources, increased greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and other negative impacts that have led to a more cautious attitude towards globalisation in recent years. In 2007, China’s concept of “Ecological Civilisation” provided a clearer direction for sustainable development in various disciplines and fields. When the changes needed to address global climate disruption and social injustice are so widespread, the design discipline is contemplating how to engage more responsibly and systematically with the multiple levels of environmental and social crises in the new civilisation and how to explore design ecologies and interventions based on local natural ecologies, industries, and cultures that are more responsive to the visions of indigenous peoples and people in all regions of the world. Loc-globalisation Design (LGD) is a new field in design research, practice, and education. It is a systematic, holistic design based on the environment, indigenous people, and production lifestyles. This paper provides a comprehensive introduction to LGD, its framework and methodology, and demonstrates the application scenarios of LGD through a relevant case study. It also explores the future development direction of LGD, providing strong support and new ideas to promote the systematic localised development of the design discipline and to enable the design actions and tangible results to be acknowledged and communicated in the world.

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prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA

15150 Ústav designu

In the context of the sustainable use of our planet's resources, there is a pressing need for environmentally friendly diets. Moreover, health issues linked to inadequate nutrition are rising, further emphasising the need for more balanced diets. The aim of the planetary health diet developed by the EAT-Lancet commission is to sustainably feed 10 billion people in 2050 while not exceeding planetary limits. According to these guidelines, the EU should reduce red meat intake by 80 % and multiply legume intake by 15. This significant shift from animal to plant-based proteins could modify trade partnerships and EU dependency on plant-based proteins for animal feed, currently discussed within the EU protein strategy. This study evaluates land use changes and environmental consequences of this change in dietary patterns by applying a consequential life cycle assessment approach combined with an agri-economic model, additionally assessing if this diet shift could help to achieve EU Green Deal targets. For this simulation, the partial equilibrium model CAPRI was used, which is a global agricultural market model focusing on Europe, including bilateral trade worldwide. We found that the diet shift results in gaps between domestic demand and supply which are compensated by increased imports of legumes and additional exports of red meat from the EU due to an increased demand for red meat in non-EU countries, as a consequence of decreased red meat prices. Land use changes within NUTS-2 regions indicate broad disparities depending on regional specialisation and profitability. The results from our life cycle assessment show limited benefits for most environmental impact categories within the EU given the considerable change in diets. GHG emissions from the agricultural sector would be reduced by 9 %, representing 4 % of the change needed to achieve overall EU GHG emission targets i.e., a reduction of 55 % by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Yet, the mitigation potential allocated to EU production of shifting diets could be greater if international trade were not offsetting expected local environmental benefits. Indeed, if EU red meat and animal feed production were reduced proportionally to the demand shift, domestic legume production could hypothetically be extended in the available agricultural areas coming along with improvements in all environmental impact categories. Scientific contribution and media regularly point out the significant influence of individual consumer behaviour as an impulse for change: "the power is on our plates", while the results of our simulations show that this holds only to a limited extent. To minimise environmental pollution, strong supply-side policies are needed to complement the power on the consumers' plates.

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doc. Ing. arch. David Tichý, Ph.D., prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA, Noor Raid Saadeh Marji, MSc., Ph.D.

15116 Ústav modelového projektování, 15118 Ústav nauky o budovách, 15119 Ústav urbanismu, 15150 Ústav designu

The demand for age-friendly communities that can support the health and well-being of older people is rising as Europe's population ages. Communities are facing transition issues. Transition Design is an emerging design approach that seeks to address complex social and environmental challenges through participatory processes, including re-framing the present and future, designing interventions, and waiting and observing. This article explores the potential of Transition Design to create age-friendly communities in Europe. Drawing on examples from several European countries, it describes the key principles of Transition Design and how they can be applied to the development of age-friendly communities. The article highlights the importance of participatory processes in involving older people and other stakeholders in the design process and discusses the role of technology in creating more accessible and inclusive environments. The article also considers some of the challenges of implementing a transition design

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prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA, M.A. Lijun Chen

15150 Ústav designu

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prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA

15118 Ústav nauky o budovách, 15150 Ústav designu

With the accelerated ageing of the world’s population, countries are focusing on solving various life issues of seniors through the power of diverse communities to spend their twilight years in quality. In the context of active ageing and community transformation, this study explores sustainable design strategies for age-friendly communities based on the theory of Design for Sustainability (DfS). The Sustainable Transformation of Age-Friendly Communities (STAFC) indicator is the analysis criterion. Case studies of ageing communities in four countries of China, the USA, Spain, and Italy are analyzed in the following four areas: Outdoor space and buildings, Transport, Social participation, Civic participation, and employment. The positive role and impact of the theory in design planning strategies for ageing communities are demonstrated, illustrating future trends in sustainable ageing community design planning, and providing references for future research.

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prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA

15150 Ústav designu

As part of coming targets to transition to a sustainable society and actively set a circular economy, one of the EU objectives is to decrease the amount of municipal solid waste and initiate the separation of its organic fraction, i. e., biowaste. Consequently, the question of how to best manage biowaste at the municipal level is of high importance, and previous research has shown the strong influence of local factors on the most sustainable treatment option. Life Cycle Assessment is a valuable tool for comparison of waste management impacts and was used to assess environmental impacts of the current biowaste management in Prague and give insight for im-provements. Different scenarios were created regarding EU and Czech biowaste targets for separated collection. Results show the significant influence of the source of energy that is substituted. Consequently, in the current situation of an energy mix highly based on fossil fuels, incineration is the most sustainable option in most impact categories. However, community composting was found to have a better potential to reduce ecotoxicity and resource use of minerals and metals. Furthermore, it could supply a significant proportion of the minerals need of the region while increasing the autonomy of the Czech Republic regarding mineral fertilisers. To meet targets of EU directives for separated collection of biowaste, a combination of anaerobic digestion, to avoid use of fossil fuels, and composting, to increase circular economy, is most likely the best option. The outputs of this project would be of great significance for municipalities.

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prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA

15150 Ústav designu

Using biomass to substitute fossil resources is seen as one of the sustainable ways to tackle climate change. Yet not all biomass projects can be a priori declared beneficial. A climate impact assessment, such as life cycle assessment or carbon footprint, is crucial for a science-based policy recommendation. However, those assessments can often be incomplete, especially since many of those adopt an assumption that biogenic CO2 emissions cause no harm to the climate and do not need to be accounted. Such a simplistic "neutrality assumption" can lead to inaccurate results and thus to undesired consequences. This article synthesizes and further develops the diverse argumentation against the "neutrality assumption," especially regarding the complexity of biomass production, differences in the timing of emission, allocation procedure, and climate change characterization methodology. Thus, the article draws a broader picture of the complex issue of biomass projects and argues for more comprehensive assessments.

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