Trex Launches Ecofriendly Decking from Recycled Waste

Trex® has pioneered a revolutionary approach to outdoor building materials by transforming waste into high-performance composite decking. The company doesn't simply recycle - it repurposes approximately 95% of waste materials, combining recycled plastic film and reclaimed wood fibers to create durable, low-maintenance outdoor products.

This innovation represents more than three decades of environmental commitment, long before sustainability became an industry buzzword. Trex® has embedded ecological responsibility into its corporate DNA, establishing itself as a leader in plastic film recycling and sustainable manufacturing.

Trex®'s manufacturing process demonstrates an exceptional commitment to resource efficiency:

• Plastic Film Repurposing: Everyday plastic films - from grocery bags to product packaging - that would typically end up in landfills are collected and transformed into premium building materials. A single 20'x20' Trex® deck diverts over 1,500 pounds of plastic film and wood waste from landfills.
• Wood Fiber Reclamation: The wood fibers in Trex® products come entirely from reclaimed sources, primarily industrial byproducts that would otherwise be discarded. This approach preserves forests and reduces the environmental impact associated with timber harvesting and processing.

Trex® maintains rigorous environmental standards throughout its supply chain:

• Localized Sourcing: Approximately 90% of suppliers are located within the United States, reducing transportation emissions and enabling closer oversight of environmental practices.
• Material Prioritization: The company gives preference to post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials in all product designs, minimizing demand for virgin resources.

Independent lifecycle assessments demonstrate Trex® composite decking's significant environmental advantages over traditional pressure-treated wood over a 25-year period:

Reduction in Environmental Impact:

• Greenhouse gas emissions: 42% lower
• Hazardous air pollutants: 48% lower
• Acidification potential: 86% lower
• Eutrophication potential: 90% lower
• Photochemical smog formation: 54% lower

Trex®'s sustainability efforts have earned numerous accolades:

• Corporate Sustainability: Recognized in Barron's "100 Most Sustainable Companies 2024" (ranking #68) and Investor's Business Daily's "100 Best ESG Companies 2023."
• Product Excellence: Recipient of Green Builder magazine's "Most Eco-Friendly" composite decking award for 13 consecutive years.
• Environmental Stewardship: Honored with multiple state Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards and the "Inherit the Earth" Gold Award from Connecticut College.

The company's NexTrex® recycling challenge program, established in 2006, has engaged over 3,300 community groups and schools in plastic film recycling efforts, diverting approximately 1.5 million pounds of plastic from landfills annually.

Through partnerships with organizations like Trees for the Future, Trex® has facilitated the planting of more than 22,000 trees, further contributing to environmental restoration efforts.