02 Oct New Visual Identity at Danish Decommissioning

Danish Decommissioning is adopting a more modern and contemporary expression to support an enhanced understanding of our current and future tasks

Since the establishment of Danish Decommissioning (DD) in 2003, its visual identity has remained unchanged. This identity comprises, among other elements, the logo, color scheme, fonts, and other graphic choices.

However, this year, as DD celebrates its 20th anniversary, several factors have prompted a closer examination of a new visual identity that underscores our transformation from a decommissioning to a waste management organisation.

This means that DD's new identity will henceforth be encountered both in the virtual and physical realms.

More Tasks in the Future
DD's original logo from 2003 was created at a time when DD's task portfolio differed significantly from today. The core task of decommissioning remains central to DD's daily operations; however, additional tasks have since emerged.

Back in 2003, the ambition was for radioactive waste to be in a final repository by the current time, but for several reasons, the deadline has now been postponed to 2073. This reality means, among other things, that tasks related to the storage of waste over a longer time horizon than originally assumed have arisen. This is most evident in the project for the new upgraded storage facility (NOL).

Concurrently, there has been an expressed desire to clarify our profile and facilitate stakeholders' rapid understanding of who DD is and what tasks DD performs.

The task-related transformation from a decommissioning to a waste management organisation is already well underway, and this is now further clarified by the new logo and emphasized by the subtext: "National Centre for Radioactive Waste."

The Story Behind It
With DD's new logo, a new narrative also emerges.

The turquoise/blue-green color in the logo is achieved by blending blue and green. These colors individually represent the tasks and mission DD undertakes. Blue signifies knowledge and purity, while green represents the future, the environment, and "Green Field," which is the designation for our ultimate goal of leaving the Risø area available for any other purpose without radiological restrictions, based on the operations of Risø and DD.

The turquoise/blue-green color is also a clear reference to Risø's proud history, where the research station was for many years among the world's foremost in nuclear basic research.

The color can thus already be found in several locations at Risø, thereby connecting the present, future, and past.

The logo's graphic expression derives from the well-known symbol for radioactivity. A symbol often associated with danger, yet in its essence, it merely indicates the presence of something that is, to some extent, radioactive and emits radiation from its core.

Therefore, it is natural that this particular symbol forms the foundation for DD's new logo, but in a version where DD's colors replace the black/yellow expression, to support the symbolism that we at DD manage radioactive, in our case, waste.

Concurrently, the three circular segments surrounding the center represent our three core tasks: decommissioning/dismantling, long-term solution, and waste management, just as they represent our three values: involvement, responsibility, and development.

In addition to the new logo, the subtext, 'National Centre for Radioactive Waste,' has been added to clarify DD's profile as the only entity in Denmark that manages radioactive waste, apart from individual operators who handle the so-called NORM waste (naturally occurring radioactive material).

In its full form, the logo also includes the text 'unique solutions to complex problems,' which reinforces the narrative of DD as a unique organisation in the Danish context, addressing a task not previously attempted in Denmark. A task that inherently demands novel and unique solutions.

An Exciting Future
Ole Kastbjerg Nielsen, Director at DD, views the new visual identity, including the logo, as a natural part of the evolution DD has undergone since 2003.

– I have been involved right from the beginning in 2003 and have witnessed firsthand the significant transformation we have undergone since then. This applies both to the complexity of our tasks and our development as an organisation, as well as the core tasks we address. Therefore, it is entirely natural, in my view, that we now also modernize our expression to reflect our current position and the future we envision.

Kirsten Hjerrild Nielsen, Technical Director at DD and nuclear expert, is also pleased that DD is now entering its 20th year with a renewed appearance.

– It is positive that our visual expression now aligns with the transformation we have undergone, particularly over the past 5 years, since the adoption of B90 in 2018. As someone who has also been present during the operational period, I also find it positive that, with the new logo, we embrace Risø's remarkable and proud history, incorporating it into something that points towards our exciting future at DD.