Trex Company, Inc.

The first patent for a “Method of Producing a Wood-Thermoplastic Composite Material” was filed as U.S. Patent number 5746958 in March 1995 and granted in May 1998. The Assignee was Trex Company LLC, operating in Winchester, VA.[18] The process abstract for the creation of composite decking is: “A method for producing a wood-thermoplastic composite material using a high bulk density feedstock. Since the feedstock is easy to handle it provides manufacturers with lots of control over the process. Prompted by the prospect of environmental regulations mandating recycled materials, this process uses spent sawdust and plastic material rather than disposing of it.”[18]

The Trex process combines different materials, mostly wood and plastic, and forms them to create a product that has the appearance of wood. The wood content in Trex products is largely wood byproducts like sawdust, wood pallets, wood chips and wood fiber. The polyethylene plastic continues to be mostly recycled materials from commonly discarded items like stretch wrap, packaging films, grocery and retail bags and case/carton/product overwraps.[19] Trex uses more than 1.5 billion plastic bags each year to make its eco-friendly outdoor-living products and reclaims and repurposes more than 800 million pounds (400,000 tons) of recycled plastic film and reclaimed wood fiber annually. Plastic film and wood fiber each make up about 50% of this total. [20] An average, 500 square foot composite Trex deck may contain approximately 140,000 recycled plastic bags. [21]

Trex diverts more than 400 million pounds of plastic film, bags and wrap each year from landfills and uses it to make eco-friendly outdoor living products that endure for 25+ years.[22] The components are mixed and a pigment and preservative are added during the process. The mixture is then heated, formed into a board shape, and cooled.[19] Trex uses vegetable oil instead of petroleum-based fluids in some hydraulic systems and we prioritize process water reuse in closed loop systems, thereby lowering our consumption of water and conserving this important resource. 160M+ gallons of water is saved per year between Winchester and Fernley.[21] The proprietary, eco-friendly processing method and bi-coastal factories also reduce fuel consumption and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.[21]

In 2009 Trex introduced a ‘Transcend’ line of decking [23] that is a co-extruded composite decking product that includes a shell around the composite boards on three sides to protect the boards from staining, fading and scratching.[24] The Trex Transcend line of decking claims a recycled content rate of more than 95%[25] but costs about five times the price of natural wood.[26]

Trex composite decking contains more than 95% recycled content and offers verification by ICC-ES.[29] In July 2010 Trex received a Verification of Attributes Report (VAR-1011) from the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) under the Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation Program. The verification validates Trex’s wood-alternative products are manufactured with a minimum of 95.4% recycled content. Trex claims is the first composite decking manufacturer to obtain this certification.[29]

Trex has been a member of the Green Building Council, a trade group promoting environmentally friendly building practices, (USGBC) since 2009. USGBC is best known for the widely recognized LEED program (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).[30]

Through the LEED point-based system, the use of Trex decking and railing products add points based on the percentage of recycled product content.[27]

Trex conducts and participates in eco-friendly educational and recycling programs in various parts of the United States.[28] Since 2006, students at schools throughout the country have participated in a ‘Trex Plastic Bag Challenge’ (recently renamed ‘Plastic Film Recycling Challenge’[27] ). Students collect plastic bags in exchange for a gift of Trex benches to participating schools.[31]

The company has also provided in-kind contributions, financial assistance and expertise to environmental projects around the country. These include:

• The BASF Near Zero Energy Home in Paterson, NJ.[32]
• The Maui Wildlife Refuge Complex, Kealia Pond NWR in Hawaii. The two-year participation included the construction of a 2,200-foot pedestrian boardwalk in 2005 and boardwalk upgrades using Trex decking materials for a total value of $600,000 in 2006.[33]
• The Solar Decathlon, a collegiate green building competition.[31]
• The Point Defiance Zoo, a theater and Kids Zone in Tacoma, WA.[31]
• The National Building Museum’s ‘The Green House Exhibit’ in Washington, D.C.[34]

Trex corporate participation in environmental efforts, coupled with its eco-friendly product profile, has led to recognition by governments, publications and trade groups.

These include:

• Trex won “Greenest Decking” in the Green Builder Media 2019 Readers' Choice Awards for the 10th year in a row. Trex has held this title since the awards were first launched in 2009.[35]
• In 2019, Trex received Green Builder Media’s highest honor, the Eco Leader award.[36]
• Trex earned a 2015 & 2016 Readers' Choice award from Green Builder magazine for greenest product in the decking category.[37]
• Trex won a GAIA award, the Middle East’s premiere environmental award.[38]
• The 2013 ‘Green Award’ from Washingtonian Magazine. The award recognizes citizens, companies and organizations in the DC Metro area working to improve the environment and encourage eco-friendly living.[39]
• The Green Builder Media’s 2013 Reader’s Choice Awards, earning more than 40% of the vote for the ‘greenest’ decking in the industry.[40]
• The ‘Excellence in Plastics Recycling’ award from the Society of Plastic Engineers Recycling Division. The award is given based on plastic volume, type and the success of the resulting products.[41]
• In 2005 Trex was given the ‘Green Award’ by Winslow Management Company in recognition of companies that contribute positively to both the environment and shareholders.[42]
• The Governor of Virginia’s Environmental Excellence First Place Award. Trex has received this award twice. First, in 2001, for building a nature trail on Teddy Roosevelt Island in Arlington, VA and again in 2003 for ‘Outstanding Environmental Project’ in the Smaller Manufacturer’s category.[43]