Environmentally Friendly

Now more than ever, customers are demanding environmentally friendly products. In fact, working 'green' can be a great selling point and help you get an extra edge over the competition. Trex decking, railing, and fencing products are not only beautiful and long lasting, but also environmentally responsible. In fact, the use of sustainable materials and green manufacturing processes are core principles in everything we do. You can learn more about our green manufacturing processes and commitment to environmentally friendly practices in the Trex Green brochure.

Recycling isn't Just Part of Our Manufacturing Process…
It IS Our Process

Trex composite products are made of a unique combination of wood and plastic fibers. These fibers come from reclaimed or recycled resources, including sawdust pallets, and recycled plastic grocery bags from all over the country. As a result, our manufacturing process keeps thousands of tons of wood and plastic scrap out of landfills every year.

Trex Environmental Facts

Does your customer want to know if your products are environmentally friendly? Here are the facts about Trex:

• Trex keeps some 600 million pounds of plastic and wood scrap out of landfills every year.
• We are one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the United States, re-using 7 out of every 10 recycled plastic grocery bags. Each year, 1.5 billion recycled grocery bags are used to manufacture Trex products.
• NO TREES ARE CUT DOWN for the purpose of making Trex. Our wood comes from:
  • Reclaimed wood from woodworking operations
  • Used pallets
  • Sawdust (300 million pounds a year)
• Our manufacturing process is as green as our final product:
  • Trailers are hydraulically powered with vegetable-based oil
  • Our proprietary processing method eliminates smokestacks
  • Factory runoff/refuse is recycled back into the manufacturing line
• As much as possible, Trex packaging is made from recycled paper and plastic.
• We regularly conduct third-party audits to make sure we're continuously improving our green practices while meeting all environmental, health and safety guidelines and regulations.

Green Projects and Affiliations

• Trex and LEED^® certified projects combine environmental, economic and occupant-oriented performance. Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED), developed in part by the USGBC, is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED is a point-based system where projects earn points for meeting specific green building criteria. Trex and LEED certified projects cost less to operate and maintain and are healthier and safer for occupants. Learn more about the Trex and LEED Green Building Rating System™.
• Trex has been included in national environmental projects such as:
  • The BASF Near Zero Energy Home in Paterson, NJ
  • The Solar Decathlon, a collegiate green building competition
  • The National Building Museum's "The Green House" exhibit in Washington, D.C.
  • Maui Wildlife Refuge Complex, Kealia Pond NWR in Hawaii
  • Point Defiance Zoo, Theater and Kids Zone in Tacoma, WA

Trex Recycling Programs

Trex recycles post-consumer, post-industrial and post-commercial plastics, offering a complete recycling solution for all your recyclables. Trex is a member of the:

• Association of Post Consumer Plastics
• SWANA
• Progressive Bag Affiliates
• The Society of Plastics Industry

Trex also sponsors several community-based recycling programs:

• Our commitment to salvaging and reusing materials begins at the local level, with the sponsorship of several community-based recycling programs at major national grocery and retail chains.
• Trex has joined with Penn Jersey Paper and Goodwill Industries to launch the BagSmart™ program, a comprehensive initiative to help consumers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey recycle and reuse plastic bags - thus reducing their impact on the local environment.
• The Plastic Bag Challenge program has seen great success among schools in Virginia, Georgia and Northeast areas.
  • School-wide competitions are held to see who can collect the most plastic bags to recycle with Trex.
  • Kids get excited and interested in recycling early. Participating schools compete to collect the most plastic bags to be recycled by Trex and reused in their communities.
• If you would like Trex to help start a local recycling program in your community, school or university, contact us at recycle@trex.com.

Recognition + Awards

Trex was one of the first recipients of the Green Award, presented by Winslow Management Company to companies that make positive contributions to both the environment and their shareholders. We have also been recognized in numerous magazine and newspaper articles as the environmentally sound choice for decking, railing and fencing.

Trex has received numerous environmental awards, including:

• Winslow Management Company's Green Award for companies that positively contribute to both the environment and their shareholders.
• Connecticut College's Inherit the Earth Gold Medal for "demonstrating that business can be profitable, while meeting the needs of environmental sustainability."
• The "Excellence in Plastics Recycling" Award from the Society of Plastic Engineers Recycling Division.
• The Governor of Virginia's Environmental Excellence First-place Award for "Outstanding Environmental Projects" (twice received).
• The Governor of Virginia's Environmental Award for "impressive tonnage of recycled grocery bags and pallet wrap kept out of landfills."