STAT+: To push antibiotic makers to be more green, a new system will certify manufacturing practices
In response to concerns about pollution caused by antibiotic production, an industry group is launching a new system to certify that manufacturers meet environmental goals.
The idea is to create a far-reaching standard for measuring discharge from antibiotic production facilities, since standards currently vary across the globe. Pharmaceutical companies that obtain a certificate can then use the document to satisfy customers — such as government agencies — that are increasingly incorporating environmental metrics in purchase agreements.
“Waste should be minimized and strictly controlled every time production is run, so we want to create a robust environmental management system,” said Steve Brooks, an advisor to the AMR Industry Alliance, a collection of about 100 companies that pushed the certification effort as part of its focus on issues surrounding antimicrobial resistance. “The goal here is to provide an independent lens.”
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