Trex Environmental Impact

SUSTAINABILITY-DRIVEN INNOVATION IS WHAT WE DO

• One of the largest recyclers of polyethylene film in North America
• Recycled materials comprise 95% of our decking products and our aluminium railing is made from a minimum of 50% recycled content
• 800+ million pounds per year of recycled polyethylene film bags, wraps, and packaging and wood fiber by-products
• An average 500 sq. ft. composite Trex deck contains approximately 140,000 recycled polyethylene film bags, wraps and packaging
• Investment in plant exhaust scrubber systems for greater output with reduced volatile organic compound emissions
• Energy efficiency initiatives generating 8% energy savings
• Scrap recovery system for virtually 100% reintegration into manufacturing

COMMUNITY RECYCLING PROGRAMS

Trex has seen substantial growth year-over-year in programs

THE PLASTIC FILM RECYCLING CHALLENGE FOR K-12 STUDENTS

Our Plastic Film Recycling Challenge educates young people and their parents about recycling. Thousands of students across the country have prevented millions of polyethylene film wraps and pieces of film packaging from ending up in landfills. In fact, from 2011 to 2019 over 2 million pounds of polyethylene waste was diverted from landfills as a result of this program. In 2019, 732 schools participated nationwide. Each year Trex donates a high-performance composite bench to the winning school, and bestows honorary awards to every participating school.

UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY RECYCLING PROGRAMS

Grew from just a few participants in 2010 to more than 800 in 2019.

Trex sponsors local recycling programs in universities and communities throughout the country. If a team can collect more than 500 lbs. of polyethylene film refuse in a six-month span, Trex will donate a high-performance composite bench to the school or community. Trex provides promotional materials and recycling bins, and a volunteer must weigh and report the collected materials every month before delivering them to one of our participating drop-off retailer locations.

CHEMICALS IN MANUFACTURING AND AIR EMISSIONS

Since Trex primarily uses wood and heated plastic in manufacturing, we use very small amounts of chemical additives in the manufacturing process and these are added at levels well below safety thresholds for worker health and the environment. Some of these chemicals already exist naturally in the material inputs. Trex manufacturing processes do not generate any appreciable NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) or SOx (Oxides of Sulphur) that would negatively affect air quality.

CLEAN AIR TECHNOLOGIES

Trex operates under state departments of environmental protection/quality air permits. We have installed air pollution control equipment for particulates, volatile organic compounds and some state-specific air toxins to maintain and control these pollutant categories well below federal and state permit standard.

In 2019, even with more production, our Virginia facility achieved a 30% facility-wide drop in certain air emissions due to investments in an additional air emission scrubber.

WOOD SOURCING

Trex is committed to the responsible sourcing of reclaimed wood materials. We source a significant percentage of reclaimed wood fiber from suppliers whose wood products are certified by leading forestry management organizations. We have contracts in place for wood sourcing, which have helped the company manage wood-sourcing costs over time.

WATER CONSERVATION

Water management is important to both the company and our communities. Since Trex sources all water for business and manufacturing needs from municipal supplies, we continuously search for and implement water reduction solutions.

• Efficient water systems delivering 39% reduction in use and 41% reduction in cost at the Virginia Polyethylene Recycling Operation facility.
• Operations at our Virginia and Nevada manufacturing facilities include closed-loop water recirculation systems that recycled approximately 99% of water used in 2019.