The Trex brand name is a recognized leader among custom deck builders. What a lot of people don’t know is that Trex offers eco-friendly decking that’s made of 95% recycled products. After building custom decks in Omaha for 40 years, we’ve seen a lot of innovations in the deck materials industry, and we’re not surprised Trex is leading the pack with its green decking lineup. Trex offers consumers a truly environmentally responsible choice with their decks. Let’s take a closer look at why these decks are considered green.
Why a Trex Composite Deck is Considered Green
It’s all in the ingredients. A Trex composite deck is made of locally sourced reclaimed wood and recycled plastic. The wood used in Trex decking would otherwise end up in a landfill if it didn’t become a Trex high-performance composite deck. The plastic is sourced from some of the most common plastic waste like sandwich bags, dry cleaner bags, and grocery shopping bags. The average 500-square-foot composite Trex deck contains 140,000 recycled plastic bags! Trex is one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the United States.
Trex Recycling Facts
In comparison with pressure-treated lumber over a 25-year period, the positive environmental impact of Trex decking is amazing.
- 36% Fewer Greenhouse Emissions
- 47% Fewer Toxic Air Pollutants
- 84% Less Acidification
- 80% Less Water Contamination
- 53% Less Smog
- 93% Less Ecological Toxicity
The Trex Sustainable Supply Chain
Trex takes an active role in ensuring its supply vendors operate with ethical and responsible business practices. 95% of Trex suppliers are U.S.-based. Trex conducts supply chain assessments, including in-person reviews, operating facility tours, and works with suppliers to reduce the environmental impact across the supply chain.
The Trex Production Process
The Trex manufacturing process is just as green as its final product. Their processing method eliminates the use of smoke stacks. Nearly 100% of factory runoff and refuse is recycled back into the manufacturing line. Here’s an overview of the process of creating a Trex deck.
- Sawdust and plastic film are purchased
- Plastic film is cleaned and ground into granules
- Plastic film and sawdust are combined and heated
- Mixture is mixed to a soft, pliable consistency
- Mixture is formed into boards using profile dies
- Boards are cooled and cut to length
- Boards are inspected by quality control for defects, strengths, and color accuracy
- Finished boards are wrapped and shipped
Trex has never cut a single tree in the making of their high-performance composite decking!
Ready to Go Green in 2020?
If you’ve been thinking about a custom deck for your home in 2020, you can’t go wrong with Trex. Not only are they leading the composite deck industry in sustainability, but they also make some of the most high-quality, long-lasting composite decking materials on the market. The customization from color, texture, and board size ensures you get a truly one-of-a-kind deck that will last for years – if not decades.