This book addresses environmental quality management standards from the business managerÂ’s point of view. It examines the costs and benefits of conformance in terms of competitiveness, market share, and return on investment. Numerous case studies describe how other companies are responding to the new standards and help companies benchmark how close their own operations are to conformance. The release of the new ISO 14000 standards on environmental management is a watershed event for environmental professionals and their companies. Business of all sizes will need to face is expected to become the facto international standard for proactive environmental practices and requirement for conducting business overseas. ISO 1400 has been described as the new global passport for international trade. A prime motivation for seeking conformance with the ISO 14001 environmental management system specification is concern that companies not willing to move ahead with ISO 14000 may do so at their own peril. ISO 1400 will involve many critical investment and implementation decisions. Integrating environmental factors into broader business management systems and decision making will be, for many companies, a long process of change and improvement.