At Danish Decommissioning, we actively work to reduce our CO2 footprint and contribute to increased sustainability through our operations.
At Danish Decommissioning, we manage Denmark's radioactive waste. This waste is both received from the Danish society and generated by us in our daily work with the Decommissioning of the nuclear facilities at Risø.
Since the establishment of Danish Decommissioning in 2003, the mission has been to decommission the nuclear facilities at Risø in a manner where the least possible amount of waste will be deposited in a final repository in the Danish subsurface by 2073 at the latest.
This naturally imposes requirements on how Danish Decommissioning processes and manages the waste, including its sorting. This sorting ensures that waste which can be classified as conventional waste is recycled in the same manner as Denmark's conventional waste.
Recycling
In the actual work of the Decommissioning of the Risø research station, several choices have also been made with a view to green transition and sustainability, including the reuse of both tools and materials, whenever feasible.
At Danish Decommissioning, we actively consider the need for purchasing new materials, tools, clothing, and similar items from a holistic perspective, where green transition, recycling, and sustainability are also included as parameters.
Sustainability throughout the organisation
In addition to the practical work of decommissioning, Danish Decommissioning also encompasses a range of functions of a more administrative nature.
Out of approximately 90 employees, 50 are engaged in primarily administrative roles, and in this area as well, sustainability, green transition, and the minimization of the CO2 footprint are key priorities.
Within our procurement function, we focus on sustainable procurement, whether for decommissioning tasks or administrative duties.
Employees are encouraged to reduce energy consumption, concerning both heating and electricity.
Waste sorting has also been implemented within the organisation, and continuous efforts are made to expand and further develop this scheme. Furthermore, employees are continuously encouraged to submit suggestions for sustainability initiatives throughout the organisation.
New Building Provided New Opportunities for Sustainable Initiatives
One of the most recent examples of efforts towards green transition, sustainability, and reduction of the carbon footprint is related to the establishment of Danish Decommissioning's latest building, commonly referred to as '781'.
Fundamentally, new construction inevitably consumes significant resources within a relatively short timeframe. Nevertheless, Danish Decommissioning faced a situation where it was imperative to establish new and modern office and meeting facilities, recognising that the existing premises no longer met the operational requirements.
This new construction was executed using modular units, which are inherently significantly more sustainable than conventional alternatives. This is partly because the modules are constructed in a dedicated facility, after which the 90% completed units are transported to the final site, thereby significantly reducing material transportation and associated logistics.
In conjunction with the establishment of building 781, solar panels have also been installed on the roof to contribute to the green transition, alongside other environmentally conscious choices.
For instance, Danish Decommissioning has opted to reuse tiles from a previous building for the entrance, with a focus on sustainability and recycling.
A Greener Future
At Danish Decommissioning, we actively strive for a greener future. Highly symbolic of this commitment is our ultimate goal to return our portion of the Risø site as 'Greenfield'. This area will then be available for any future use, having been fully and completely decommissioned.
Throughout the journey towards this ultimate goal, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, sustainability, carbon footprint, and environmental considerations are significant parameters that define the choices we make, both now and in the future.
All of this is to ensure that we contribute our part to a greener future.