Our Veterans and their families have selflessly served our great country. Many become business owners after they leave the military. Are you looking for Veteran-owned businesses to support and Made in America products? These are seven of the top Veteran-owned businesses, all of which are eco-friendly and/or have a socially conscious mission. Be sure to check them out!
Hubby is a retired Green Beret, and we always try and support Veteran companies whenever we can. “Vetrepreneurship” is making its mark. The National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) estimates there are 3 million veteran-owned businesses. Commitment, loyalty, and service to others are automatic values for Veteran business owners. But what about being all-natural? Green, sustainable and eco-friendly? Or socially and environmentally conscious? We have seven winners that are red, white, blue, AND green!
The Top 7 Veteran Owned “Green” Businesses
Sword & Plough (my FAVE!)
Sword & Plough repurposes military surplus material into durable and fashionable bags. Sword and Plough incorporates tents, sleeping bag covers, uniform materials, and durable canvas and nylon fabrics into their product designs. They reduce waste and minimize their carbon footprint by incorporating thousands of pounds of repurposed military surplus materials in their product line, manufacturing exclusively in the United States, and using recycled materials in their packaging.
According to Co-owner and CEO Emily Nunez Cavness, “I was inspired to start Sword & Plough because I wanted to find a way to empower veteran employment, reduce waste, and strengthen civil-military understanding. I grew up in a military family and was inspired to serve in the Army after seeing my dad’s impactful military career. When I was a college student, I was the only ROTC cadet on campus for many years, which made me aware of the civil-military divide and the need for increased understanding. When I went to Airborne School, I met some soldiers who were nervous about their future civilian job prospects, and it seemed like such an injustice to me that they had to worry about that when they bring such incredible leadership and management skills to the table. In addition to those experiences, my sister and co-founder, Betsy Núñez, and I have had an interest in fashion and sustainability since a young age. The opportunity to combine all of these interests into a purposeful social enterprise has been such a fulfilling experience! We’re so proud of the impact Sword & Plough has created so far and very grateful for our community of supporters!”
SHOP Sword & Plough
Anchors Aweigh Hair Co.
Anchors Aweigh Hair Co. was established in 2013 by Benjamin David, a U.S. Army Veteran turned hairstylist. Growing up in a very poor household, his parents often put missions and outreach before their own economic gains. They didn’t have the money to keep up with all of the fashion trends of the day, but Ben’s brother taught him how special “rock’n” a cool hairstyle could be. And it felt good.
Rad Hair. Revolutionary Purpose. Petroleum Free. Alcohol-Free. Paraben-Free. Propylene Glycol-Free. Some vegan products. The products are unlike any other product out there. The pliability, the sheen, the ease of washing and the original scents all make the products one of a kind.
And then there is the “purpose.” By donating hand sanitizer and other hygiene products to soldiers, families and refugees around the world, Anchors Aweigh Hair Co. vows to make this world a better place by helping people look and feel their best through rad hair and charity.
SHOP Anchors Aweigh Hair Co
Bonus – Pink Fortitude’s Military-Inspired Gifts
While Pink Fortitude’s Etsy shop isn’t focused on military items, we are a Veteran family, and I created a line of Gratitude Builds Fortitude gifts that are military-inspired. Hubby is a retired Green Beret, and our hearts are with all of our fellow service members and their families.
SHOP Pink Fortitude
Bottle Breacher
Bottle Breacher is one of the fastest-growing Veteran Owned and Operated businesses in Arizona. Bottle Breachers are made in the USA, hand-crafted .50 caliber bottle openers made by Active Duty service members and Veterans.
Former Navy SEAL, Eli Crane, and his wife Jen brought to Shark Tank their sole product of the recycled, authentic decommissioned .50 caliber Bottle Breacher, manufactured in a one-car garage. Having enticed Sharks’ Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary to invest, today they feature an ever-expanding product line serving customers both domestically and internationally.
Bottle Breacher aims to provide the best handcrafted, personalized man-gifts, groomsman gifts and corporate/promotional products on the market. Crane and his team believe that it is their duty to serve those who serve us. Last year, they donated to over 200 non-profits, providing the opportunity to support Military Veterans, Active Military Personnel, First Responders, Children’s Foundations and various other non-profits. “Open your next cold one in style!”
SHOP Bottle Breacher
Patriot Men’s Co
The mission of Patriot Men’s Co is to create unique, premium, and patriotic products for our brothers and sisters who have or currently serve and sacrifice-the American Patriot. Inspired daily by our Veterans, Military, Law Enforcement, and First Responders, we bleed Red, White, and Blue. Welcome to the Patriot Family!
Patriot Men”s Company is a premium, handcrafted, natural, small-batch, veteran-owned grooming and everyday wear lifestyle company. To us, what you use and wear daily should be a patriotic experience to go along with your Freedom Loving, American Attitude!
Our premium products are crafted in the USA using the highest quality ingredients. Our brand represents a new direction in men’s products. Made for freedom-loving, patriotic badasses!
When you purchase from Patriot, know you are not only purchasing badass products, but giving back to those who have and still do sacrifice for this great country. A portion of all sales are donated to Veteran, Active Duty, and First Responder organizations.
SHOP Patriot Men’s Co
Immortal Productions 316
Immortal Productions 316 is a Veteran Owned and Faith-Based Shop. Phil is a Veteran of the Army Military Police Corps.
We offer unique and custom screen printed shirt designs. Our shop began as a hobby, and progressed from there. My teen sons are involved with the production of our items, to learn how to produce, earn and give. We use a many different quality shirt brands. The shirt descriptions are attached with each shirt posting. The shop name came from the Bible verse John 3:16. If you are given eternal life, you are immortal.
We take great pride in our prints, and stand behind them 100%.
SHOP Immortal Productions 316
Black Rifle Coffee Company
Black Rifle Coffee Company is the world’s premium conservative coffee company. Their coffee is carefully sourced from a variety of farms in South America, and is roasted to fuel freedom-loving Americans everywhere.
Evan Hafer started Black Rifle Coffee Company to provide a high-quality, roast-to-order coffee to the pro-2A and veteran communities. Between deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, he worked to refine both his coffee roasting skills and firearms skills. Hafer shares a common bond with my husband as a fellow Green Beret. And BRCC coffee drinker.
According to Hafer, “Black Rifle Coffee is quite literally the combination of my two favorite passions. I take pride in the coffee we roast, the veterans we employ and the causes we support.”
SHOP Black Rifle Coffee Company
Combat Flip Flops
As Army Rangers with several Afghanistan tours behind them, Matthew Griffin and Donald Lee saw a country filled with hard-working, creative people who wanted jobs, not handouts.
Combat Flip Flops were just the start. They took a product that people in nearly every country on the planet wears, and made it a weapon for change. Right now, all of the flip-flops are made in Bogota, Colombia, providing jobs and investing in people who desperately need it. Their USA-made Claymore Bag’s flip the script, on traditional weapons of war. Instead of carrying bombs, these bags act as a carry-all for business tools like iPad’s, laptops and more. The Cover and Concealment sarongs are handmade in Afghanistan by local women. Each one takes three days to make. The Peacemaker Bangle and Coinwrap are sent from artisans in Laos – and they’re made from landmines dropped during the Vietnam war.
The Double Bottom Line:
- Every product Combat Flip Flops sells puts an Afghan girl into secondary school for a day.
- Each Peacemaker Bangle or coinwrap sold clears 3 square meters of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) from a region rocked by long-term war – saving lives and providing economic opportunity.
Griff’s motto, “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
SHOP Combat Flip Flops
These business owners have all served our country and are now serving others (and the environment) in a different capacity. Be sure to include Veteran-owned businesses on your shopping list during the holiday season, and throughout the year.
Love the Red, White & Blue?
We’re a military family so I’ve got a bunch of patriotic gems here at Pink Fortitude. Recipes, DIYs, military support and more…
CLICK HERE for more patriotic articles.
Be sure to pin to your 4th of July or patriotic Pinterest board… cuz I know you got one!
Are you inspired? It’s time for some gratitude!
Love, hugs, and being red, white, blue, and green.
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