Eco Friendly Decking

Always Green

We make Trex® eco-friendly composite decks from an innovative blend of 95% reclaimed timber and plastic—that’s almost the whole thing. And we’ve been this way for more than 20 years, well before green was a buzzword. Because in the end, all of us want to look out on our decks and know that we’ve done our part.

Recycling is a Beautiful Thing

As one of the largest plastic recyclers in the U.S., Trex saves 800 million pounds of recycled plastic film diverted from landfills and reclaimed wood fiber used annually, so our eco friendly-decks contribute to a healthier environment.

Why a Trex® Composite Deck is a Green Deck

Trex recycles reclaimed wood to make high performance composite decking

Reclaimed Timber

Reclaimed timber that would otherwise end up in a landfill finds its way into Trex high-performance composite decks. By using reclaimed sawdust, we never have to cut down a tree to make our products. Ever.

Trex is one of the largest plastic bags recyclers in the U.S.

Recycled Plastic

The reclaimed timber in our decks is combined with recycled plastic from a variety of sources ranging from the overwrap on paper towels to dry cleaner bags, sandwich bags, newspaper sleeves, and grocery and shopping bags. Here’s an interesting fact: the average 500-square foot composite Trex deck contains 140,000 recycled plastic bags! That makes us one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the U.S.

Trex was built on green principles

The Big Picture

Trex works along with other U.S. Green Building Council members to transform the way building and communities are designed, built and operated with the goal of creating environmentally and socially responsible spaces that improve the quality of life.

We haven't felled one tree in the making of Trex high-performance composite decking. Ever.

Green Projects & Affiliations

 

The BASF Near Zero Energy Home in Paterson, NEW JERSEY

 

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 NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE in Hawaii

 

Point Defiance Zoo, Theater and Kids Zone in Tacoma, WASHINGTON

Recycling Programmes

Our commitment to salvaging and reusing materials begins at the local level, with the sponsorship of several community-based recycling programmes at major national grocery and retail chains.

Trex is excited to sponsor each year the Plastic Film Recycling Challenge in schools and communities all across the United States. The challenge brings to life for children the importance of recycling and keeping plastic film out of the nation's landfills. Schools compete against each other to collect the most plastic film, such as grocery bags and case overwrap, which will eventually be recycled and made into beautiful Trex wood-composite decking and railing products. Youth get excited and interested in recycling early and Trex is happy to make possible a programme that encourages recycling and community involvement.





 

Industry Recognition

Widely recognised as the leading eco-friendly choice for decks and deck railings, Trex has always been at the forefront of the green building industry. As a proud member of the U.S. Green Building Council, we’re continually working to improve the way America’s buildings and communities are designed, constructed and operated.

Trex has received numerous environmental awards, including:

  • The Governor of Virginia's Environmental Award for "impressive tonnage of recycled grocery bags and pallet wrap kept out landfills"
  • Connecticut College's Inherit the Earth Gold Medal for "demonstrating that business can be profitable, while meeting the needs of environmental sustainability"
  • The Governor of Virginia's Environmental Excellence First-Place Award for "Outstanding Environmental Projects" (twice received)
  • Winslow Management Company's Green Award for companies that positively contribute to both the environment and their shareholders
  • The "Excellence in Plastics Recycling" award from the Society of Plastic Engineers Recycling Division
  • The E-3 Green Company Executive Award from Pennsylvania-based Emerald Asset Management for CEO Ron Kaplan’s leadership and commitment to excellence
  • Green Builder Media’s 2013 Reader’s Choice Awards, earning more than 40 percent of the vote for the “greenest” decking in the industry
  • 2013 Green Award from Washingtonian magazine, which recognizes citizens, companies and organisations in the Washington DC area that are working to improve the environment and encourage eco-friendly living.
  • Trex is the first company in the timber-alternative decking industry to receive an International Code Council Evaluation Service® (ICC-ES)* SAVE Verification for Recycled Content. This independent third party verification confirms that, with a minimum of 95.4% recycled content, Trex composite products really are as green as it gets.