Green Success Stories sat down with Phillip Cole III of Edge Engineering & Science, LLC (EDGE), an environmental engineering and consulting firm in Houston, Texas. Phillip helps companies establish environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs, as well as corporate social responsibility (CSR) frameworks. We discussed his accidental (but happy) journey into sustainability, the need for funding for environmental programs, and the great pleasure it brings him to help companies improve on community service, reduce pollution, and eliminate bad practices. A green success story on his own, Phillip rose from difficult economic conditions to become the first in his family to earn a college degree, and is currently about to earn his MBA in Sustainability and Environmental Compliance.
Tell us a bit about your sustainability journey.
I embarked on my sustainability journey by simply pure luck or some may say an act of God. I was in line for general studies at Texas Southern University and my advisor at the time pulled me out of line to enroll for Environmental Health Science. I had no clue what it was or what it entailed. I just knew by me signing up for the program, I didn’t have to wait in line for school. From there i became involved in environmental consulting and have been invested ever since.
Tell us a bit about the product or solution you offer.
The product or solution I offer is my knowledge and experience in helping clients establish CSR and ESG frameworks for their company. I have almost a decade of experience and now that I am currently enrolled in pursuing my MBA in Sustainability and Environmental Compliance from Southern New Hampshire University, I feel that I am more adept in providing solutions to the clients that I serve.
Share a green success story with us – how have you helped customers or other businesses in the fight against climate change?
The green success story I have ties into the solutions I offer – providing service to companies that need help establishing ESG protocols. It brings me great joy and pride helping companies identify areas where they can improve on community service, reduce pollution, or eliminate bad practices.
On a personal level, I’m the first in my family to earn a college diploma. I grew up in difficult economic circumstances, and now I’m about to earn my MBA in Sustainability, and am working in a field that helps our world be a better place – in a way I’m a green success story on my own!
What would you do with $1 billion dollars?
If I had $1 billion dollars I would put it into the infrastructure of companies, cities, and communities to solely focus on environmental impact. Lack of resources would no longer be used as an excuse, because now there would be a vast amount of resources to achieve what needs to be done. I would ensure that money is used to fund public educational programs on environmental issues, to invest in new technologies and equipment for companies to be as clean and sustainable as possible, and I would do the same for public works in the city. I would make sure that no more Flint, Michigan situations happen again due to lack of funds for proper environmental oversight.
What do you envision your industry looking like in ten years?
I envision the environmental industry being more efficient in 10 years. We are discovering and utilizing new technologies to improve functions. We are also getting laws and policies passed to regulate and keep common in compliance to reduce environmental impact. I can only imagine these procedures being increased as time progresses. I believe we’re really on a forward path, and improvements in technology, regulations, and programming keep on coming.