Book excerpt: This book explains how an organization can use a management system to both control and improve its environmental performance. It provides guidance in building the environmental management system (EMS) in support of the organization’s operations---linking the management system to the requirements of ISO 14001 to support third-party certification to ISO 14001:2015. Included in the text are best practices as well as common pitfalls and weaknesses the author has observed in various organizations. He is an environmental auditor and EMS internal auditor trainer and consultant. He has audited EMSs of over 100 companies to ISO 14001. For those organizations already certified to ISO 14001:2004, the book highlights the changes required to upgrade to the new 2015 version. In addition, included on an accompanying CD are comprehensive check sheets to be used by internal auditors in auditing an EMS's conformance to ISO 14001:2015.