ēko Solutions, a subsidiary of Land Betterment, is continuing to push the boundaries of sustainable design by transforming retired shipping containers into high-impact structures. Known for creating durable solutions for disaster relief and modular farming, the company has now taken a significant step into national defense.
Earlier this year, ēko Solutions was accepted into the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), a network of companies that supply the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) with commercial innovations across sectors such as energy storage, microelectronics, and workforce development. Membership is selective and includes a rigorous vetting process.
"They sign off that we have both the technical capabilities to perform certain work and the right corporate structure," said Kirk Taylor, President and Co-Founder of Land Betterment. "We're not owned by foreign countries of concern. It is a pretty extensive background check and corporate review, and it is the first step toward larger contracted government work."
Acceptance into the consortium not only affirms ēko’s technical and operational readiness, but it also opens the door to larger-scale projects that align with the company’s mission.
"As a member, we are now in a position to contribute to national defense through sustainable design and advanced fabrication," said Taylor. "We went through the vetting process so that when larger rescue or deployment opportunities arise, we are ready."
As a DIBC member, ēko Solutions aims to apply its modular innovation and sustainable practices to government-focused challenges. That includes workforce development, resilient supply chains, sustainable food production, and research and development that can support both domestic needs and national security objectives.
"One of the things we are proud of is the ability to deliver high-value solutions out of a container or other metal fabrication," Taylor added. "That can include housing, commercial or hospitality spaces, and even delivery of technology."
The company is already seeing increased investor interest following its membership.
"Once we have firm contracts, we expect that will lead to long-term, repeatable work," said Taylor. "That is something investors and banks respond to. It brings credibility, and we see this process as key to achieving that."
The DIBC’s mission includes accelerating the DoD’s access to commercially developed technologies. For ēko Solutions, the partnership is equally valuable.
"As is often the case with defense innovations, there is usually a commercial crossover at some point," said Taylor. "Eventually, we hope to bring some of the technologies we develop for defense back into the civilian market."
While its contributions to national security are new, sustainability remains the company’s focus. Taylor sees this as an opportunity to integrate more environmentally responsible practices into military and government operations.
"Many current systems are not sustainable. Food production in advanced deployment areas is a good example," he said. "If we can integrate container-based farms, it would allow bases to grow produce on-site."
This approach reduces supply chain dependency and improves nutritional access while minimizing waste.
"Whenever you grow things locally, it is a much more sustainable approach," he added. "The containers themselves do not break down quickly. They are built to last, which means fewer replacements and less material waste over time."
Now fully vetted and accepted into the DIBC, ēko Solutions is prepared to bring its sustainable, container-based innovations to new sectors.
"Delivering high-quality, sustainable products to support communities affected by disaster, or through government partnerships, is an exciting step forward," said Taylor. "Joining the consortium was a major milestone in making that happen."
