The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) integrated TEST methodology constitutes an approach that introduces Cleaner Production Assessment (CPA), Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) tools simultaneously.
The TEST methodology identifies improvements in industrial production processes ranging from better house-keeping to comprehensive investments into the production process, resulting in, for example, reduced energy costs, reduced water consumption, reduced waste management costs. By demonstrating to industries that the investments in higher resource efficiency in their production process can have internal rates of return of 20% and above the application of the TEST methodology effectively leverages investments by the private sector.
The application of the integrated TEST methodology allows enterprises to merge the two seemingly conflicting goals – that of reducing environmental impacts and increasing company competitiveness simultaneously. The result is a win-win situation in which companies applying environmentally-sound technologies become more profitable while at the same time reducing their detrimental environmental impacts.
- Organization: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
