Trex reports ESG advancements

Composite decking manufacturer Trex Company has published its 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report. 

The Winchester, Va.-based company said that it continued to advance its ESG objectives despite 2020 being a difficult year.

The company’s third annual ESG Report recaps a year of “Building a Better Tomorrow Together” for its customers, employees, communities, investors and the environment.

“Our people answered challenge after challenge — from the health concerns posed by COVID-19 to the demands of an ambitious capacity expansion program — with tireless dedication,” Trex President and CEO Bryan Fairbanks said. “Although 2020 was unprecedented in many ways, it also underscored the stability that flows from our strong culture and work ethic in executing against a consistent strategy as well as from our solid transition and succession planning.”

Key achievements for Trex in 2020 include:

• Environmental sustainability: Trex upcycled more than 900 million pounds of plastic film and reclaimed wood — much of which would otherwise have ended up in landfills — to create eco-friendly Trex composite decking and railing products. The company’s entire portfolio of high-performance, low-maintenance decking is manufactured from 95% recycled and reclaimed materials, including reclaimed wood and polyethylene plastic waste from industrial and consumer packaging along with household items such as grocery bags, newspaper sleeves and shrink wrap.
• Prioritizing employees’ health and well-being throughout the pandemic. The company’s Crisis Management Team deployed a COVID-19 response plan that helped ensure essential manufacturing operations continued operating under safe conditions. In addition, Trex supported alternative working arrangements and provided flexible time for all employees.
• Fostering a culture that upholds the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. In 2020, Trex focused on identifying any unconscious bias in its hiring practices and on reimagining the company’s recruitment advertising to reflect broader ethnic and gender diversity. Trex again reviewed its compensation practices and was pleased to find no gender pay gap. The company will continue to conduct additional pay equity studies across all protected categories.
• Growing production capacity sustainably. Trex completed a multi-year, $200 million capital expansion program that will enable the company to keep pace with projected future growth. Along with creating approximately 350 new jobs, the expansion increased production capacity for Trex Residential Products by approximately 70% compared to 2019 levels — enabling the company to divert even higher volumes of recycled plastic and reclaimed wood for use in its products.
• Giving back to local communities. In 2020, Trex and its employees collectively invested over $500,000 to support nonprofit organizations and causes including United Way and Feeding America.

“Conducting our business with the highest standards of integrity and making a positive difference in the communities where we operate are hallmarks of Trex’s heritage,” Fairbanks noted. 

To read more about the 2020 Trex ESG Report, click here.