Latest Sustainability Report details concrete actions underway to reduce emissions, protect nature and biodiversity, support employees, and forge new community and Indigenous partnerships
Chalk River, ON – November 27, 2025 – Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce the release of its 2024-2025 Sustainability Report, the latest in a series of annual documents that tracks the company’s journey towards more sustainable operations. First published in 2021, the most recent report provides members of the public, CNL stakeholders and interested parties with insight into the work being done to integrate sustainability into the company’s projects, programs and culture, working in coordination with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL).
Included within CNL’s Sustainability Report are goals and targets related to environmental performance, including carbon emissions, energy efficiency, biodiversity and waste management, as well as organizational commitments to social and economic sustainability, and good governance. Among other activities, the report highlights actions taken by CNL to reduce its operational greenhouse gas emissions, nurture a diverse workforce and healthy work environment, pursue meaningful engagement with local and Indigenous communities, and expand economic opportunity for Indigenous-owned and local businesses. Given the national priority placed on clean and secure energy, the report also highlights how CNL supports the broader nuclear ecosystem and helps to position nuclear innovation as an important contributor for a more sustainable future.
Among the many highlights identified in the report this year, CNL has:
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 53 per cent at Chalk River Laboratories since 2005, by avoiding high carbon-density fossil fuels, decommissioning aging buildings and infrastructure, integrating building efficiency enhancements, and decarbonization of the Ontario electricity grid
- Diverted 91 per cent of conventional (clean, operational) waste at all CNL-managed sites, and 95 per cent of construction and demolition waste from landfill at the Chalk River Laboratories site
- Surpassed its target for sourcing goods and services from Indigenous-owned businesses, creating economic opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities
- Advanced cancer treatment by leading Actinium-225 production in collaboration with the Sylvia Fedoruk Centre, ITM and Actineer™ Inc.
- Established a dedicated Sustainability Office which serves as a consolidated centre of expertise and advice across CNL, continuing to mature CNL’s capabilities and demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
- Expanded its university partnership program, outreach activities and student engagement, resulting in a two-fold increase in co-op hires and term extensions from partner universities
“As Canada’s national nuclear laboratories, CNL’s commitment to sustainability impacts and adds value to every area of our business,” commented Jack Craig, CNL’s President and CEO. “Whether it is making informed decisions in our projects to realize cost-savings through life-cycle investments, building a workplace culture that attracts top talent, contributing to meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, or building trust with communities and businesses surrounding the sites that we manage, sustainability has a profound impact on everything we do, big and small.”
“As the Crown corporation responsible for Canada’s nuclear assets, AECL is proud to work alongside CNL to embed sustainability into every facet of our operations,” commented Fred Dermarkar, President and CEO of AECL. “This latest report demonstrates how our partnership is driving tangible progress, reducing emissions, protecting biodiversity, and fostering meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities. Together, we are ensuring that Canada’s nuclear sector not only meets today’s energy and environmental challenges but also creates lasting value for future generations.”
“At its core, sustainability is about making responsible choices that positively affect environment and social outcomes and create lasting value for all those who have a stake in CNL’s plans, operations and outcomes,” commented Dilhari Fernando, CNL’s Chief Sustainability Strategy Officer. “We do this by taking concrete steps to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, protect nature and biodiversity, keep our employees safe and position them for success. It also means transforming the way we work to align our investments, talents and capabilities to help confront national challenges in clean energy, public health and safety, energy security and environmental remediation.”
If you’d like to learn more about CNL, or view the company’s 2024-2025 Sustainability Report, please visit www.cnl.ca/sustainability.
About CNL
As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.
By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.
To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.
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CNL Contact:
Philip Kompass
Director, Corporate Communications
1-866-886-2325
media@cnl.ca
