Trex Company, Inc.

In 1988, Roger Wittenberg combined sawdust and plastic bags to create a park bench. In 1996, Mobil Chemical Co. acquired Wittenberg's technology and formed Trex, LLC. Trex is widely considered to be one of the inventors of composite decking made from recyclable materials.{{cite web|title=Product of the Month: Composite Decking|url=http://www.naturalelementhomes.com/Newsletter/natural-element-homes-newsletter-aug2012-composite-decking.html|access-date=18 September 2013|publisher=Natural Element Houses}} The idea for a process and product created to maximize the use of materials that would otherwise wind up in landfills is credited to inventors Kjell-Ake Gustafsson, of Binghamton, New York; John J. Muller, of Winchester, Virginia; and Roger A. Wittenberg of Newton, Pennsylvania.{{cite web|title=Method of producing a wood-thermoplastic composite material|url=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=25&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=5746958&OS=5746958&RS=5746958|work=United States Patent|publisher=USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database}} The first patent for a "Method of Producing a Wood-Thermoplastic Composite Material" was filed as U.S. Patent number 5746958 in March 1995 and granted in May 1998. File:Trex Composite Decking.jpg

Bryan H. Fairbanks was named president and CEO of Trex effective April 29, 2020. Former president and CEO (2015-2020), James E. Cline, has assumed the position of chairman of the board and Ronald W. Kaplan is now vice chairman effective April 29, 2020.{{Cite web|date=24 February 2020|title=Trex Company Announces Succession Plan|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200224005847/en/Trex-Company-Announces-Succession-Plan|access-date=6 May 2020|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}} Effective October 23, 2023, Brenda Lovcik was named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.{{Cite web|date=10 October 2023|title=Trex Company Names Brenda Lovcik Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/trex-company-names-brenda-lovcik-senior-vice-president-and-chief-financial-officer|access-date=19 January 2025|website=Nasdaq|language=en}}

Trex is America's largest manufacturer of composite decking.{{Cite web|last=Tully|first=Shawn|date=May 29, 2021|title=Insane lumber prices are supercharging Trex's composite wood business—and making it a top-performing stock|url=https://fortune.com/2021/05/29/lumber-prices-trex-stock-composite-wood/|website=Fortune}} Their manufacturing process combines recycled plastic film, like grocery bags and dry cleaning wrap, with reclaimed wood, some of which is swept from the floors of furniture factories. To procure the amount of plastic film necessary for production, Trex works with grocery store chains like Albertsons, which has contributed more than 200 million pounds of recycled plastic film to the NexTrex recycling program.{{cite web|author=Building Products Digest|title=Trex Teams up with Albertsons to Keep Plastic out of Landfill|url=https://www.building-products.com/trex-teams-up-with-albertsons-to-keep-plastic-out-of-landfill/|date=15 November 2020|publisher=526 Media Group|access-date=17 November 2024}} Trex uses approximately 400 million pounds of recycled plastic film to make its composite decking. Trex maintains two manufacturing facilities in Winchester, Virginia, and Fernley, Nevada.{{Cite web|last=Kavanaugh|first=Catherine|date=June 6, 2019|title=Deck maker Trex investing $200M at two US sites|url=https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/deck-maker-trex-investing-200m-two-us-sites|website=Plastics News}}

Trex promotes an environmental stance as part of its commercial appeal in the marketplace.{{cite web|last=Roach|first=John|title=Are Plastic Grocery Bags Sacking the Environment?|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0902_030902_plasticbags.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031008072828/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0902_030902_plasticbags.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 8, 2003|work=National Geographic News|publisher=National Geographic|access-date=14 October 2013|date=September 2, 2003}}

Trex composite decking contains more than 95% recycled content and offers verification by ICC-ES.{{cite press release|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/04/22/1807422/0/en/Introducing-NexTrex-Composite-Decking-Leader-Announces-New-Name-For-Successful-Retail-Recycling-Program.html|title=Introducing "NexTrex™": Composite Decking Leader Announces New Name For Successful Retail Recycling Program|work=GlobalNewswire|date=22 April 2019|access-date=6 December 2019}} In July 2010 Trex received a Verification of Attributes Report (VAR-1011) from the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) under the Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation Program. The verification validates Trex's wood-alternative products are manufactured with a minimum of 95.4% recycled content. Trex claims is the first composite decking manufacturer to obtain this certification.

Trex corporate participation in environmental efforts, coupled with its eco-friendly product profile, has led to recognition by governments, publications and trade groups.

These include:

• Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2025, Barron's.{{Cite web|url=https://www.barrons.com/lists-rankings/top-sustainable-companies|title=2025 100 Most Sustainable Companies|date=2025-02-14|website=www.barrons.com|publisher=Dow Jones & Company|access-date=2025-03-30}}{{Cite web|url=https://business.thepilotnews.com/thepilotnews/article/bizwire-2025-3-3-trex-ranked-among-barrons-100-most-sustainable-companies-for-2025|title=Trex Ranked Among Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies for 2025|date=2025-03-03|website=business.thepilotnews.com|publisher= The Pilot News|access-date=2025-03-30}}
• Winner, "Green Products: Decking," 2024, Green Builder Media.{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/blog/green-builder-sustainable-brand-index-2024|title=Green Builder Sustainable Brand Index 2024|last=Naditz|first=Alan|website=www.greenbuildermedia.com|publisher=Green Builder Magazine|language=en|access-date=2024-12-29}}
• Eco Leader Award, 2019, Green Builder Media.{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/green-builders-2019-eco-leaders-home|title=Green Builder Media's 2019 Eco-Leaders|last=Media|first=Green Builder|website=www.greenbuildermedia.com|date=28 July 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-06}}
• Readers' Choice Award, 2015 & 2016, Green Builder magazine.{{cite web|title=2016 Reader Choice Awards|url=http://www.greenbuildermedia.com/2016-readers-choice-awards|website=Green Builder|access-date=8 April 2016}}
• Winner, 2016 GAIA award.{{cite web|title=GAIA Awards 2014 Winners|url=https://www.middleeastconcrete.com/visit/event-features/gaia-awards/gaia-awards-2014-winners/|website=GAIA|access-date=8 April 2016}}

• Best of Houzz Design Award, 2024, Houzz.{{cite web|url=https://www.houzz.com/best-of-houzz-2024|title=Best of Houzz Award Winners|website=www.houzz.com|access-date=29 December 2024}}
• America's Most Responsible Companies 2024, Newsweek.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-most-responsible-companies-2024|title=America's Most Responsible Companies 2024 - Newsweek Rankings|website=www.newsweek.com|access-date=29 December 2024}}
• IBD's 100 Best ESG Companies for 2023, Investor's Business Daily.{{cite web|url=https://www.investors.com/news/esg-stocks-list-of-100-best-esg-companies/|title=ESG Stocks: List Of 100 Best ESG Companies|website=www.investors.com|access-date=29 December 2024}}
• America’s Most Trusted Outdoor Decking 2023, Lifestory Research.{{cite web|url=https://www.lifestoryresearch.com/2023-best-decking-review-rankings|title=Best Outdoor Decking Brands Ranked in America's Most Trusted Study|website=www.lifestoryresearch.com|access-date=29 December 2024}}
• America's Best Mid-Sized Companies, 2021, Forbes.{{Cite web|title=America's Best Mid-Sized Companies 2021|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-mid-cap-companies/|access-date=2021-02-23|website=Forbes|language=en}}
• Top Brand, 2017 & 2019 Builder Brand Use Study.[http://www.builderonline.com/products/2017-builder-brand-use-study-results_o 2017 BUILDER BRAND USE STUDY RESULTS]{{Cite web|url=https://www.builderonline.com/products/2019-builder-brand-use-study-results_o|title=2019 BUILDER BRAND USE STUDY RESULTS|website=www.builderonline.com|access-date=2019-12-06}}
• Top Brand: all four composite/PVC subcategories, 2016, Builder Brand Use Study.{{cite web| url = http://www.builderonline.com/products/2016-builder-brand-use-study-results_o| title = 2016 Builder Brand Use Study Results {{!}} Builder Magazine}}
• Gold Award, Social Media Communications, 2016, Publicity Club of Chicago.{{cite web|url=http://blog.lcwa.com/2016/06/four-lcwa-campaigns-honored-at.html|title=Four LCWA Campaigns Honored at Publicity Club of Chicago Golden Trumpet Awards|access-date=28 January 2019}}
• Platinum (x3), Gold (x3) Awards for Design Excellence, 2015, ADEX.{{cite web|title=Trex Company|url=https://adexawards.com/companies/detail/4369-trex-company|website=ADEX Awards|access-date=8 April 2016}}
• Best Decking (Platinum List), 2015, Ocean Home Magazine.{{cite web|title=Golden Hammer Update: Decking honors|url=http://www.hbsdealer.com/article/golden-hammer-update-decking-honors|website=HBS Dealer|access-date=8 April 2016}}
• Eight awards, 2015, Remodeling Magazine's Brand Use Study.{{cite web|title=Brand Use Study|url=http://cdnassets.hw.net/cf/c3/d6afc5ed417d903c98edaca00fac/remodeling-2015-brand-use-study.pdf|website=Remodeling|access-date=8 April 2016}}

A manufacturing problem at the Trex manufacturing facility in Fernley, Nevada, from 2002 to 2007 led to production of decking boards that were prone to surface flaking. These boards were sold throughout 16 Western states in the U.S. and resulted in a class-action suit against the company.{{cite press release|author=Trex Company|title=Trex Company Reminds Consumers of Replacement Program for Defective Decking Manufactured between 2002 and 2007 for Sale in the Western United States|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trex-company-reminds-consumers-of-replacement-program-for-defective-decking-manufactured-between-2002-and-2007-for-sale-in-the-western-united-states-214759721.html|date=9 July 2013|publisher=PR Newswire|access-date=17 November 2024}} In a settlement approved in 2010, Trex agreed to replace any decking boards, including some resulting labor costs, for decking affected by surface flaking.

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• "[http://readydecks.com/products/pool-decks.html Pool Decks]". Professional pool Deck builder. Retrieved 19 March 2005.

• {{official website}}

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