Trex Company Celebrates Earth Day Every Day

WINCHESTER, VA--(Marketwired - April 22, 2016) - For Trex^®, the world's number one decking and railing brand and leader in high-performance, low-maintenance outdoor living products, every day is Earth Day. From commercial recycling partnerships to eco-friendly manufacturing, Trex sets the scene with green -- helping schools, businesses and homeowners preserve and protect the environment.

"Being green is in our DNA," says Jim Cline, president and CEO of Trex. "Trex was built upon sustainable principles more than 25 years ago -- and we continue that legacy today with numerous community initiatives nationwide."

Commemorative Installation at the Birthplace of Earth Day

In honor of environmental protection, Trex donated decking boards for the LOVE sculpture commissioned by Airlie, a Virginia estate, hotel and conference center where the idea for Earth Day was originally introduced. In 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson first introduced his idea for Earth Day to students participating in a conference at Airlie, leading to the first Earth Day celebration on April 22, 1970 in cities across the country.

More than four decades later, Airlie still hosts programs dedicated to social progress, education and environmental research. Part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation's LOVEworks campaign, this year's LOVE exhibit at Airlie -- unveiled on Earth Day -- centers on a sculpture made from 90 percent recycled materials, including Trex decking and a repurposed tractor tire from the Fauquier County landfill, and represents the community's dedication to sustainability and protecting the environment.

Trex Plastics Film Recycling Challenge

Earth Day also marks the end of the Trex 2015-16 Trex Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge, which encourages elementary, middle and high school students to collect plastic bags and other types of polyethylene plastic for the chance to win Trex products for their schools. A record number of 575 schools participated in this year's program, collecting 213,389 pounds of plastic film. Instead of going into landfills, that plastic waste will be converted into beautiful Trex decking.

Just announced, the winner of this year's challenge is Wilton Community School of Wilton, Iowa where students recycled the most plastic film per capita. The sixty students of Wilton Community School recycled more than 1,000 pounds of polyethylene plastic, earning their school a Trex composite bench to commemorate their efforts.

"In addition to promoting fun and friendly competition, the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge provides students with a better understanding and appreciation for the importance of recycling," said Stephanie Hicks, material resource coordinator for Trex. "This year's program was our most successful to-date, educating thousands of students about how they can help care for our planet."

Elevating Awareness

Historically at the forefront of the green building industry, Trex is a proud member of the U.S. Green Building Council, which is dedicated to improving the way America's buildings and communities are designed, constructed and operated. Additionally, the sponsors participate in a variety of national recycling programs and solutions working with such organizations as the American Chemistry Council's Flexible Film Recycling Group, the Society of the Plastics Industry, the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. Trex also supports a multitude of recycling solutions at the local level, and continues to expand its support of "green" initiatives in communities across the country.

"We are always forming new education efforts and work closely with businesses and community members who want to help," explained Dave Heglas, senior director of material resources for Trex Company. "All of these relationships help us to further our recycling mission and provide us with the materials we need to continue providing high-performance, beautiful decking for today's eco-conscious homeowners."

Green by the Numbers

One of the largest recyclers of plastic in the U.S., Trex uses more than 1.5 billion plastic bags each year to make its eco-friendly, wood-alternative outdoor living products. Following are a few other fun facts related to Trex's "green" products and practices:

• Trex high-performance composite outdoor living products are manufactured from a minimum of 95 percent recycled and reclaimed materials.
• A standard 16-foot Trex deck board contains approximately 2,250 recycled plastic bags.
• Trex keeps 400 million pounds of plastic and wood scrap out of landfills every year.
• No tree has ever been cut down in the making of Trex high-performance composite decking.
• Trex's manufacturing process is as "green" as its products with factory runoff/refuse recycled back into the manufacturing line.
• Much of Trex's packaging materials are made from recycled paper and plastic.
• Trex trailers are hydraulically powered with vegetable-based oil.

"Our commitment to eco-friendly practices expands beyond our business, whether we're raising awareness about recycling among students or partnering with forward-thinking organizations," said Cline. "We aim to promote eco-consciousness, while 'greening' outdoor living spaces with Trex composite decking."

About Trex Company

Trex Company is the world's largest manufacturer of high performance wood-alternative decking and railing, with more than 20 years of product experience. Stocked in more than 6,700 retail locations worldwide, Trex outdoor living products offer a wide range of style options with fewer ongoing maintenance requirements than wood, as well as a truly environmentally responsible choice. For more information, visit trex.com. You also can follow Trex on Twitter (@Trex_Company), Pinterest (trexcompany), or Houzz (trex-company-inc) "like" Trex on Facebook, or view product and demonstration videos on the brand's YouTube channel (TheTrexCo).