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For the past four years, Trex Co. and REI Co-op have partnered to divert plastic film waste collected at the specialty outdoor retailer’s stores and fulfillment centers for use in the making of Trex’s eco-friendly, long-lasting and beautiful composite decking.
When it came time for REI to expand its Signature Camp near Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, it was only natural that the brands work together to highlight the full-circle efforts at REI’s private campsite. Nature lovers can now enjoy the great outdoors from tent set-ups situated on elevated platforms made from Trex composite decking.
“At Trex we believe the best memories are made outdoors so it made perfect sense to partner with a company like REI whose entire brand is built around the outdoor experience,” explained Leslie Adkins, group vice president of marketing and ESG development for Trex. “It’s been especially rewarding to work with one of our dedicated recycling partners to demonstrate the circularity of Trex decking in such a unique and tangible way.”
REI joined the NexTrex commercial recycling program in 2020 and in that time has contributed nearly 1 million lbs. of plastic film to the program through collections across its stores along with contributions from its fulfillment centers. These efforts further the company’s goal of achieving zero waste in its operations, which requires diverting at least 90% of waste from landfill or waste-to-energy.
Bringing these efforts full circle to REI’s campsite, the company worked with Trex to build 10 elevated decking platforms made of Trex Transcend Lineage at its Signature Camp near Bryce Canyon. The deck boards used in these platforms contain the equivalent of more than 700,000 pieces of plastic film diverted from landfills.
“Creating access to the outdoors for all is core to who we are and how we design guided adventure experiences at REI,” said Justin Wood, REI Experiences director. “Our relationship with Trex helps us reduce our footprint by diverting plastic waste from landfills while also providing durable and attractive recycled materials for the construction of our private REI Signature Camps. That’s meaningful and important to REI and to our customers.”
Another reason REI chose Trex decking for its Bryce Canyon campsite is practicality. Engineered to endure the snow and sun, the boards feature a proprietary, high-traffic formulation and ultra-durable integrated shell that resists stains, scratches and mold. They won’t rot, warp, crack or splinter and will retain their color and luxurious finish for decades. For added peace of mind, Lineage decking is backed by a 50-year limited warranty.
Additionally, unlike with wood, maintaining Trex composite decking is completely hassle-free. No sanding, staining or painting is ever needed, and spills wash off easily with just soap and water. This equates to more efficient operations for the Co-op’s adventure travel operator due to less maintenance throughout the guiding season.
For more information, visit trex.com.
About Trex Company, Inc.
For more than 30 years, Trex Company has invented, reinvented and defined the composite decking category. Today, the company is the world’s #1 brand of sustainably made, wood-alternative decking and deck railing, and a leader in high performance, low-maintenance outdoor living products.
The undisputed global leader, Trex boasts the industry’s strongest distribution network with products sold through more than 6,700 retail outlets across six continents.
Through strategic licensing agreements, the company offers a comprehensive outdoor living portfolio that includes deck drainage, flashing tapes, LED lighting, outdoor kitchen components, pergolas, spiral stairs, fencing, lattice, cornhole and outdoor furniture – all marketed under the Trex brand.
Based in Winchester, VA., Trex is proud to have been named America’s Most Trusted Outdoor Decking four Years in a row (2021-2024), as well as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 by Newsweek and one of the 100 Best ESG Companies for 2023 by Investor’s Business Daily.
For more information, visit trex.com.
