Trex Outdoor Living Products are Eco-Friendly
Written by Euphrasia Carroll
A winner in the materials category of Builder News’ 2008 Best Products Awards, Trex Accents’ new Fire Defense decking is self-extinguishing, even in cases of direct exposure to flames.
The creation of flame retardant decking is just one of many reasons Trex is well known for eco-friendliness. A leading brand of alternative decking, railing, fencing, and trim products, Trex makes composite products from a unique combination of wood and plastic fibers. These plastic and wood fibers are derived from reclaimed or recycled resources, including sawdust and used pallets from woodworking operations, and recycled plastic grocery bags from all over the country.
Trex is a strong voice for environmentally friendly products and manufacturing practices, and devotes a section of its website to education on the topic. Here, visitors learn that “using sustainable materials and green manufacturing processes is a policy that touches everything we do.” Interesting highlights include:
- Trex keeps some 300,000 tons of plastic and wood scrap out of landfills every year.
- No trees are cut down for the purpose of making Trex.
- Trex is one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the United States.
The product line’s beauty is presented in an online catalog that is another example of the company’s standard of excellence. The website also features an extensive photo gallery showing how Trex materials are used to create outdoor living environments, and actual deck plans are available for downloading. There’s also a Deck Designer that lets you customize your deck plans with different colors, textures, design shapes, and outdoor living accessories.
The Trex composite formula brings together the best qualities of wood and plastic:
- Plastic shields the wood from moisture and insect damage, preventing rotting and splintering.
- Wood protects the plastic from UV damage while providing a natural, attractive look and feel.
Although decking materials are probably the most common reason homeowners, builders, and remodeling contractors turn to Trex, the company also features lines of fencing materials and building trim that is as durable and easy to work with as the rest of the product line.
Trex is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council.
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The material looks great. I expect is it low maintenance and long lasting as is most composite timber look a likes. Beautiful finish.