Guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for manufacturing of antibiotics

United Nations 1 year ago

Control of pollution from antibiotic manufacturing is a key part of safeguarding the longevity of antibiotics for all. Pollution contributes to antibiotic resistance and potentially undermines the effectiveness of medicines. High levels of antibiotics in water bodies downstream of manufacturing sites have been widely documented. Currently, antibiotic pollution from manufacturing is largely unregulated and quality assurance criteria typically do not address environmental emissions. This guidance has been called for by a myriad of international bodies, strategies and reports.  Its purpose is to provide an independent scientific basis for inclusion of targets in binding instruments to prevent the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.The target audiences are: regulatory bodies; procurers of antibiotics; entities responsible for generic substitution schemes and reimbursement decisions; third-party audit and inspection bodies; industrial actors and their collective organizations and initiatives; investors; and waste and wastewater management services. This guidance also includes best practices for risk management, including internal and external audit and public transparency. Crucially, this guidance includes progressive implementation, and stepwise improvement when needed recognizing the need to protect and strengthen the global supply, and to ensure appropriate, affordable and equitable access to quality-assured antibiotics.  Read the press release New global guidance aims to curb antibiotic pollution from manufacturing Also available Frequently asked questions Background document: Evidence synthesis for deriving PNECs for resistance selection
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 5 hours ago



The UK’s low carbon building sector is entering a decisive economic shift shaped by falling energy prices and regulatory pressure on environmental sustainability in construction. Renewables have reduced wholesale electricity costs, creating a cost advantage for electrified plant, onsite generation and energy‑efficient buildings. Developers with access to grid connections are advancing sustainable construction projects using behind‑the‑meter solar and storage to cut the carbon footprint of construction while strengthening resilience and compliance. Investment flows are accelerating, with new financing facilities enabling wider adoption of low carbon design and renewable building materials that improve whole life carbon performance.

Policy direction is tightening. Biodiversity net gain requirements are being enforced alongside nature‑positive planning, driving sustainable building practices that integrate eco‑design for buildings from the outset. The shift reflects a lifecycle assessment approach, embedding whole life carbon assessment and life cycle cost analysis early in design to align with circular economy principles and sustainable material specification.

Globally, rising emissions from digital infrastructure underline the urgency of addressing embodied carbon in materials and operational energy demand. Data centres are setting benchmarks for embodied carbon reduction, cooling efficiency and grid interaction. The next generation of net zero carbon buildings will depend on circular construction strategies and resource efficiency in construction to deliver verifiable decarbonising of the built environment.

As energy systems decentralise, demand is increasing for low embodied carbon materials, end‑of‑life reuse in construction and transparent environmental product declarations (EPDs). The competitive edge now lies in designing net zero whole life carbon assets that demonstrate measurable improvements in building lifecycle performance, aligning with standards such as BREEAM and BREEAM v7. Sustainable building design has become both a compliance necessity and a strategic advantage in achieving a carbon neutral construction future.

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