Trex highlights environmental and social achievements

Composite decking manufacturer Trex has published its 2019 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report.

The report arrives in conjunction with the launch of a new Trex ESG Hub on the company’s website.

“Our 2019 ESG Report highlights Trex Company’s strong performance across environmental, social, governance, and financial metrics,” said President and CEO Bryan Fairbanks. “These accomplishments are aligned with the company’s values and reflect excellent execution on behalf of our leadership team and dedicated workforce.”

Highlights from the report include:

• The environmental footprint for Trex decking has improved across all impact categories since the 2016 Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). The company said this is noteworthy given the increased production associated with the introduction of the new Trex Enhance decking product, sourcing more materials to support higher volume, upgrading manufacturing operations, and improving output on legacy product lines.
• The launch of NexTrex, a polyethylene collection program, has expanded the reach of the company’s recycling initiatives and increased its base of participating retailers and consumers.
• Trex has used more than 850 million pounds of polyethylene film and reclaimed wood fibers in its products in 2019.
• Closed-loop water recirculation systems have been added to the company’s manufacturing facilities in Virginia and Nevada recycled approximately 99% of the water used in 2019.
• Safety programs resulted in a 24% reduction in recordable incident rates.
• The company recorded a 25% increase in the retention of hourly workers during a period of very low unemployment rates.

“Environmental stewardship is embedded in the Trex DNA, and we continually seek ways to strengthen our legacy,” Fairbanks noted. “Since inception, our decking products have been made with 95%+ recycled material content. Recycled consumer and industrial polyethylene film and reclaimed wood are the primary material sources for Trex decking.”

More details about the company’s efforts are available in its 2019 Environmental, Social and Governance Report.

Looking ahead, Fairbanks said that the Winchester, Va.-based manufacturer’s strategic objective is to accelerate the conversion from wood decking to sustainable Trex composite decking. The CEO said that the result will be more plastic being diverted from landfills, benefitting the communities where Trex operates.