Item 1. Business
Item 1.
Business
General
Trex Company, Inc. (Trex), was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in 1998. Through December 30, 2022, Trex had one wholly-owned subsidiary, Trex Commercial Products, Inc. Together, Trex and Trex Commercial Products, Inc. are referred to as the Company, we or our. The Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of composite decking and railing products, which are marketed under the brand name Trex ® and manufactured in the United States. Our principal executive offices are located at 2500 Trex Way, Winchester, Virginia 22601, and our telephone number at that address is (540) 542-6300.
Business and Growth Strategies
More than 30 years ago, Trex invented the composite decking category. Today, Trex continues to reinvent and redefine outdoor living with a commitment to innovation and growth that has made Trex the world’s #1 brand of sustainably made wood-alternative decking and deck railing, along with a comprehensive portfolio of sustainable, high performance, low-maintenance outdoor living products including fencing, cladding, fasteners, and outdoor lighting. Helping homeowner’s design outdoor spaces that reflect their individual styles and budgets, coupled with products at various price points makes Trex the leading brand for homeowners seeking to invest in their outdoor living spaces. Trex’s ability to leverage strong brand awareness and a product offering with the advantages of sustainability, low-maintenance, and durability to help fuel conversion from wood decking and railing to Trex positions our Company well within the large and expanding Outdoor Living market.
Key to Trex’s leadership and growth is the strength of the Trex brand. Marketing investments focused on homeowners’ needs and wants drove brand awareness to its highest level in a decade, with 90% of people surveyed being aware of the Trex brand, while products for every price point help drive profitable growth and wood conversion. Brand strength coupled with an unparalleled distribution and pro-channel dealer network and a leading brand presence at major home improvement retailers ensures that homeowners can find Trex products wherever and whenever they choose.
As the inventor of composite decking, Trex is known for delivering innovative products leveraging the proprietary and skill-based advantages in our eco-friendly manufacturing process. We continue to extract value from the materials by broadening our material streams, implementing new material processes, and developing the next generation of low-cost materials. Our growth and margin expansion strategy positions us well to expand our leadership position in the category with beautiful, high performance, low-maintenance products and includes the following initiatives:
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Accelerate material conversion from wood.
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Expand our market by introducing new products that are innovative, eco-friendly and durable.
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Leverage brand leadership to drive customer demand.
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Increase the number of stocking dealers and retailers by leveraging our market-leading channel relationships.
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Drive margin expansion by continually improving our polyethylene recycling capabilities and manufacturing productivity.
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Execute strategic acquisitions that expand our product offerings and/or enrich our manufacturing process.
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Products
Operations and Products: The Company operated in one reportable segment during the year ended December 31, 2023: Trex Residential. The Company operated in two reportable segments during the years ended December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021: Trex Residential Products (Trex Residential), the Company’s principal business based on net sales, and Trex Commercial Products (Trex Commercial). On December 30, 2022, the Company sold substantially all of the assets of its wholly-owned subsidiary and reportable segment, Trex Commercial Products, Inc. See related information in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements to this Form 10-K.
Trex Residential is the world’s largest manufacturer of high-performance, low-maintenance, eco-friendly wood-alternative composite decking and railing, with more than 30 years of product experience. Trex outdoor living products are marketed under the brand name Trex ® and manufactured in the United States. Stocked in more than 6,700 retail locations worldwide, Trex Residential offers a comprehensive set of aesthetically appealing and durable, low-maintenance product offerings in the decking, railing, fencing, cladding and outdoor lighting categories. A majority of the products are eco-friendly and leverage recycled and reclaimed materials to the extent possible. Trex Residential decking is made in a proprietary process that combines reclaimed wood fibers and recycled polyethylene film, making Trex Residential one of the largest recyclers of waste polyethylene plastic film in North America. Our composite deck boards do not rot, warp, or splinter and the versatile colors feature a refined wood grain that adds depth and luxury to any backyard. Trex Residential products are sold to distributors and home centers for final resale primarily to the residential market.
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Trex offers the following products through Trex Residential:
Decking and
Accessories
Our principal decking products are Trex Signature ® , Trex Transcend ® Lineage ™ , Trex Transcend ® , Trex Select ® , and Trex Enhance ® . In addition, our Trex Transcend decking product can also be used as cladding. Our high-performance, low-maintenance, eco-friendly composite decking products are comprised of a blend of 95 percent reclaimed wood fibers and recycled polyethylene film and feature a protective polymer shell for enhanced protection against fading, staining, mold and scratching. Trex Signature decking offers realistic woodgrain aesthetics that raises the bar for beauty, performance and sustainability and is available in two luxurious hues inspired by stunning natural settings. Trex Transcend Lineage is the next generation of design and performance in composite decking and is available in four luxurious, on-trend hues inspired by some of the most picturesque locales in the United States. Our Trex Transcend decking provides elevated aesthetics paired with the highest level of performance and is available in eight multi-tonal monochromatic classical earth tones and premium tropical colors. Trex Select decking offers the perfect pairing of price and minimal maintenance and is available in five nature-inspired earth tone colors. Our Trex Enhance boards pair the beauty of authentic wood-grain appearance with the durability of composite with minimal maintenance and the affordability of wood and is available in natural and basic colors.
We also offer accessories to our decking products. Trex Hideaway ® , a self-gapping universal hidden fastener designed to give a seamless finish to every project. Trex DeckLighting ™ , an outdoor lighting system, is a line of energy-efficient LED dimmable deck lighting designed to use 75% less energy compared to incandescent lighting. It can be installed into the railing, stair risers or the deck itself. The line includes a post cap light, deck rail light, riser light, a soffit light and a recessed deck light. Pre-assembled stair panels that allow for easier installation and are designed to save time on the jobsite.
Railing
Our railing products are Trex Transcend Railing, Trex Select Railing, Trex Select T-Rail, and Trex Signature ® aluminum railing. Our high-performance composite and aluminum deck railing kits and systems are sustainably manufactured, easy to install and durable. Trex railing systems are built with the same durability as Trex decking and will not rot, warp, peel or splinter and resist fading and corrosion. Trex Transcend Railing, made from approximately 40 percent recycled content, is available in the colors of Trex Transcend decking and finishes that make it appropriate for use with Trex decking products as well as other decking materials, which we believe enhances the sales prospects of our railing products. Trex Select Railing, made from approximately 40 percent recycled content, is offered in a white finish and is ideal for consumers who desire a simple clean finished look for their deck. Trex Select T-Rail, made from a minimum of 40 percent recycled materials, is available in square composite balusters in Classic White for a cohesive, coordinated look, or round aluminum balusters in Charcoal Black for a more modern contrast. Trex Signature aluminum railing, made from a minimum of 40 percent recycled content, is available in three colors and designed for consumers who want a sleek, contemporary look.
Fencing
Our Trex Seclusions ® composite fencing product is offered through two specialty distributors. This product consists of structural posts, bottom rails, pickets, top rails and decorative post caps. The top and bottom rails of Trex fencing are designed to provide a “picture frame’ element and the deep rich colors have a matte surface to prevent harsh sunlight reflections.
Trex Residential products offer a number of significant aesthetic advantages over wood while eliminating many of wood’s major functional disadvantages, which include warping, splitting and other damage from moisture. In addition to resisting fading and surface staining, Trex Residential products require no sanding, staining or sealing, resist moisture damage, provide a splinter-free surface and do not require chemical treatment against rot or insect infestation. Special characteristics (including resistance to splitting, the ability to bend, and ease and consistency of machining and finishing) facilitate installation, reduce contractor call-backs and afford
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consumers a wide range of design options. Combined, these aspects yield significant aesthetic advantages and lower maintenance than wood decking and railing and ultimately render Trex Residential products less costly than wood over the life of the deck.
We have received product building code listings from the major U.S. building code listing agencies for decking and railing and from the major Canadian building code listing agency for decking. The listings facilitate the acquisition of building permits by deck builders and promote consumer and industry acceptance of our products as an alternative to wood decking.
We are a licensor in a number of licensing agreements with third parties to manufacture and sell products under the Trex trademark. Our licensed products are:
Trex ® Outdoor Furniture ™
A line of outdoor furniture products manufactured and sold by PolyWood, Inc.
Trex ® RainEscape ® , Trex ® Protect ® , Trex ® RainEscape ® Soffit Light, and Trex ®
Seal ™ Ledger Flashing Tape
An above joist deck drainage system manufactured and sold by IBP, LLC. Trex Protect Joist, Beam and Rim tape is a self-adhesive butyl tape that protects wooden deck framing/substructure elements. Trex RainEscape Soffit Light is a plug-and-play LED Soffit light that is installed in the under-deck ceiling of a two-story deck. Trex Seal Ledger Flashing tape is butyl flashing tape with an aluminum liner.
Trex ® Pergola ™
Pergolas made from low maintenance cellular PVC and all-aluminum product, manufactured by Home & Leisure, Inc. dba Structureworks Fabrication.
Trex ® Lattice ™
Outdoor lattice boards manufactured and sold by Structureworks Fabrication.
Trex ® Cornhole ™
Cornhole boards manufactured and sold by IPC Global Marketing LLC.
Trex ® Blade ™
A specialty saw blade for wood-alternative composite decking manufactured and sold by Freud America, Inc.
Trex ® SpiralStairs
A staircase alternative for use with all deck substructures manufactured and sold by SS Industries dba Paragon Stairs.
Trex ® Outdoor Kitchens ™
Outdoor kitchen cabinetry manufactured and sold by Danver Outdoor Kitchens.
Trex Commercial designed and engineered custom railing solutions prevalent in professional and collegiate sports facilities, standardized architectural and aluminum railing systems targeted at commercial and high-rise applications, and custom staging systems for the performing arts, sports, and event production and rental market. Trex Commercial marketed to architects, specifiers, contractors, and building owners.
Through the date of sale of Trex Commercial on December 30, 2022, Trex offered the following products through Trex Commercial:
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Architectural railing systems;
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Aluminum railing systems; and
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Staging equipment and accessories.
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Customers and Distribution
We are committed to conducting business activities with the highest standards of business ethics and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Our Vendor and Customer Code of Conduct and Ethics (Code), available at www.trex.com/our-company, applies to all parties providing goods and services to the Company, and all channel partners who distribute, sell and/or install our products (collectively, Business Partners). We expect all Business Partners, and all of their employees, agents and subcontractors to follow our high ethical standards set forth in the Code while they are conducting business with us or on our behalf. In addition, we expect our Business Partners to understand and comply with the Trex Company Code of Conduct and Ethics, available at www.trex.com/our-company, to do business with Business Partners who share the same commitment to human rights that we have and as set forth in our Human Rights Policy, available at www.trex.com/our-company .
Trex Residential: Wholesale Distributors/Retail Lumber Dealers . We generate most of our sales for our composite decking and railing products through our wholesale distribution network by selling Trex Residential products to wholesale distributors, who in turn, sell our products to retail lumber outlets. These retail dealers market to both homeowners and contractors, but they emphasize sales to professional contractors, remodelers and homebuilders. Contractor-installed decks generally are larger installations with professional craftsmanship. Our retail dealers generally provide sales personnel trained in Trex Residential products, contractor training, inventory commitment and point-of-sale display support. We believe that attracting wholesale distributors, who are committed to our products and marketing approach and can effectively sell higher value products to contractor-oriented lumber yards and other retail outlets, is important to our future growth. Our distributors provide value-added service in marketing our products because they sell premium wood decking products and other innovative building materials that typically require product training and personal selling efforts. We typically appoint two to three distributors within a specified area to sell only Trex Residential decking products on an exclusive basis. The distributor purchases our products at prices in effect at the time we ship the product to the distributor.
Home Depot and Lowe’s. We sell our products through Home Depot and Lowe’s stores. Home Depot and Lowe’s purchase products directly from us for stocking on their shelves. They also purchase product through our wholesale distributors for special orders placed by consumers. Home Depot and Lowe’s serve both the contractor market and the “do-it-yourself” market. We believe that brand exposure through Home Depot and Lowe’s promotes consumer acceptance of our products.
In the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, sales to certain customers of Trex Residential accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s total net sales. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, three customers of Trex Residential represented approximately 72%, 64%, and 61%, respectively, of the Company’s total net sales. No other customer represented 10% or more of the Company’s total net sales.
Trex Commercial: Prior to the sale of Trex Commercial on December 30, 2022, we sold modular and architectural railing and staging systems to the commercial and multifamily market, including sports stadiums and performing arts venues, primarily to facility owners and general contractors throughout the country. We marketed these products through direct sales staff, independent sales representatives, and bidding on projects.
Manufacturing Process
Products manufactured at our Trex Residential manufacturing facilities in Virginia and Nevada are primarily manufactured from reclaimed wood fiber and scrap polyethylene. Our primary manufacturing process for the products involves mixing wood particles with plastic, heating and then extruding, or forcing, the highly viscous and abrasive material through a profile die. We use many proprietary and skill-based advantages in our eco-friendly manufacturing process. We use Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing methodologies throughout our Company within our plant operations and in the planning and execution of certain projects.
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Our manufacturing processes require significant capital investment, expertise and time to develop. We have continuously invested the capital necessary to expand our manufacturing throughput and improve our manufacturing processes.
In October 2021, we announced plans to add a third U.S.-based Trex Residential manufacturing facility located in Little Rock, Arkansas, that will sit on approximately 300 acres of land. The development approach for the new campus will be modular and calibrated to demand trends for Trex Residential outdoor living products. Construction began on the new facility in the second quarter of 2022, and in July 2022, we entered into a design-build agreement. We anticipate spending approximately $450 million on the facility and the budget for the design-build agreement is contained within this amount. Construction for the new facility will be funded primarily through our ongoing cash generation or our line of credit.
In addition, we prioritize cost reduction projects and continuous improvement opportunities, primarily related to automation, modernization, energy efficiency and raw material processing, and remain focused on innovation and new product development. We have also broadened the range of raw materials that we can use to produce a consistent and high-quality finished product. In connection with national building code listings, we maintain a quality control testing program.
Suppliers
We conduct supply chain assessments when considered necessary in relation to the significance of the purchase and business opportunity for the Company. Assessments include in-person reviews and tours of operating facilities. The Company is committed to conducting business activities with the highest standards of business ethics and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. As stated above, our Vendor and Customer Code of Conduct and Ethics, our Company Code of Conduct and Ethics, and our Human Rights Policy apply to all suppliers of the Company.
The production of most of our decking products requires a supply of reclaimed wood fiber and scrap polyethylene. We fulfill requirements for raw materials under both purchase orders and supply contracts. In the year ended December 31, 2023, we purchased our reclaimed wood fiber requirements under purchase orders and long-term supply commitments not exceeding four years. All of our polyethylene purchases are under short-term supply contracts that generally have a term of approximately one year for which pricing is negotiated as needed, or under purchase orders that do not involve long-term supply commitments.
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Reclaimed Wood Fiber : Most of our reclaimed wood supply originates in North America through relationships with cabinet makers, wood flooring manufacturers, sawmills, lumberyards and other entities that generate and collect wood byproducts in their operations. In addition, we purchase scrap select wood chips generated from various farming operations. If the reclaimed wood fiber meets our specifications, our reclaimed wood fiber supply agreements generally require us to purchase at least a specified minimum and at most a specified maximum amount of reclaimed wood fiber. Depending on our needs, the amount of reclaimed wood fiber that we actually purchase within the specified range under any supply agreement may vary significantly from year to year.
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Scrap Polyethylene : The polyethylene we consume is primarily composed of scrap plastic film and plastic bags. We will continue to seek to meet our future needs for scrap polyethylene from the expansion of our existing supply sources and the development of new sources. We believe our use of multiple sources provides us with a cost advantage and facilitates an environmentally responsible approach to our procurement of polyethylene. Our ability to source and use a wide variety of polyethylene from third party distribution and manufacturing operations is important to our cost strategy. We maintain this ability through the continued expansion of our plastic reprocessing operations in combination with the advancement of our proprietary material preparation and extrusion processes.
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In addition, we outsource the production of certain products to third-party manufacturers.
Training
Trex University is our state-of-the-art training facility located near our Virginia manufacturing plant designed to educate and train retailers, contractors and other partners on the benefits of Trex Residential aesthetically pleasing, high-performance, low-maintenance, eco-friendly outdoor living products. In addition, Trex Academy is an online multimedia content hub dedicated to helping the Trex Residential Do-It-Yourself customer bring their deck dreams to life by providing how-to content.
Competition
Our primary competition for our composite decking and residential railing products consists of wood products, which constitute a substantial majority of decking and railing sales, as measured by linear feet of lumber. Many of the conventional lumber suppliers with which we compete have established ties to the building and construction industry and have well-accepted products. A majority of the lumber used in wood decks is pressure-treated lumber. Southern yellow pine and fir have a porosity that readily allows the chemicals used in the pressure treating process to be absorbed. The same porosity makes southern yellow pine susceptible to absorbing moisture, which causes the lumber to warp, crack, splinter and expel fasteners. In addition to pine and fir, other segments of wood material for decking include redwood, cedar and tropical hardwoods, such as ipe, teak and mahogany. These products are often significantly more expensive than pressure-treated lumber, but do not eliminate some of the disadvantages of other wood products.
In addition to wood, we also compete with other manufacturers of wood-alternative products. Industry studies indicate that we have the leading market share of the wood-alternative segment of the decking and railing market. Our principal competitors include The Azek Company Inc., and Fiberon (a division of Fortune Brands, Inc.).
Our ability to compete depends, in part, on a number of factors outside our control, including the ability of our competitors to develop new wood-alternative decking and railing products that are competitive with our products. We believe that the principal competitive factors in the decking and railing market include product quality, price, aesthetics, maintenance cost, and distribution and brand strength. We believe we compete favorably with respect to these factors. We believe that our products offer aesthetic and cost advantages over the life of a deck when compared to other types of decking and railing materials. Although a contractor-installed deck built with Trex products using a pressure-treated wood substructure generally costs more than a deck made entirely from pressure-treated wood, Trex products are low maintenance compared to the on-going maintenance required for a pressure-treated deck and are, therefore, less costly over the life of the deck. We believe that our manufacturing process and utilization of relatively low-cost raw material sources provide us with a competitive cost advantage relative to other manufacturers of wood-alternative decking and railing products. The scale of our operations also confers cost efficiencies in manufacturing, sales and marketing.
Seasonality
Our operating results for Trex Residential have historically varied from quarter to quarter. Seasonal, erratic or prolonged adverse weather conditions may reduce the level of home improvement and construction activity and can shift demand for our products to a later period. As part of its normal business practice and consistent with industry practice, Trex Residential Products has historically offered incentive programs to its distributors and dealers to build inventory levels before the start of the prime deck-building season in order to ensure adequate availability of its product to meet anticipated seasonal consumer demand. The seasonal effects are often offset by the positive effect of the incentive programs.
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Government Regulation
Our business activities are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations. Costs and accruals incurred to comply with these governmental regulations are presently not material to our capital expenditures, results of operations and competitive position. Although there is no assurance that existing or future government laws applicable to our operations or products will not have a material adverse effect on our capital expenditures, results of operations and competitive position, we do not currently anticipate material expenditures for government regulations.
We are also subject to federal, state and local environmental regulation. The emissions of particulates and other substances from our manufacturing facilities must meet federal and state air quality standards implemented through air permits issued to us by the Department of Environmental Quality of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Division of Environmental Protection of Nevada’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Division of Environmental Quality of Arkansas’ Department of Energy and Environment. Our facilities are regulated by federal and state laws governing the disposal of solid waste and by state and local permits and requirements with respect to wastewater and storm water discharge. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.
Our operations also are subject to workplace safety regulation by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the States of Nevada and Arkansas. Our compliance efforts include safety awareness and training programs for our production and maintenance employees.
Intellectual Property
Our success depends, in part, upon our intellectual property rights relating to our products, production processes and other operations. We rely upon a combination of trade secret, nondisclosure and other contractual arrangements, and patent, copyright and trademark laws, to protect our proprietary rights. We have made substantial investments in manufacturing process improvements that have enabled us to increase manufacturing line production rates, facilitate our development of new products, and produce improvements in our existing products’ dimensional consistency, surface texture and color uniformity.
Intellectual property rights may be challenged by third parties and may not exclude competitors from using the same or similar technologies, brands or works. We seek to secure effective rights for our intellectual property but cannot provide assurance that third parties will not successfully challenge, or avoid infringing, our intellectual property rights.
We consider our trademarks to be of material importance to our business plans. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted us federal registrations for many of our trademarks. Federal registration of trademarks is effective for as long as we continue to use the trademarks and renew their registrations. We do not generally register any of our copyrights with the U.S. Copyright Office but rely on the protection afforded to such copyrights by the U.S. Copyright Act. This law provides protection to authors of original works, whether published or unpublished, and whether registered or unregistered.
We have two current U.S. Patents for decking technology. We intend to maintain our existing patents in effect until they expire on January 15, 2038 and May 23, 2038, respectively, as well as to seek additional patents as we consider appropriate.
We enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and limit access to and distribution of our proprietary information. If it is necessary to disclose proprietary information to third parties for business reasons, we require that such third parties sign a confidentiality agreement prior to any disclosure.
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Human Capital
As of December 31, 2023, Trex employed 1,765 full-time employees. Our people are what have fueled our growth as the world’s #1 brand of sustainably made, wood-alternative decking and deck railing for nearly three decades. As we look to the future, we continue to put our people first as we execute on a comprehensive plan for strategic talent management.
Over the past year, we have made significant investments in the infrastructure across all aspects of our human capital development. We have updated and enriched competency models to standardize and align all aspect of recruiting, hiring, training, and development. We have invested heavily in our employer value proposition to increase visibility and awareness of our careers to a wider and more diverse talent pool. We have implemented targeted development programs like our Trex Leadership Academy so that senior leaders and high potential team members have the opportunity to develop their skills as they contribute to Company performance. We have also invested heavily in our culture, ensuring that leaders and team members hold each other accountable to our shared beliefs and values though out all parts of the organization.
To help support our strategic talent development, we invested in several enabling tools and systems to strengthen our decision making and accelerate our progress. In 2023, we began a semi-annual cadence of employee engagement surveying and action planning using tools from the Gallup organization. All Company managers and leaders received training on the tools and new expectations have been set to ensure action is taken between each survey. We have also continued to evolve our internal communications function. New tools, channels, and processes have enabled the Company to move beyond weekly newsletter updates to real-time news sharing and dynamic access to information through a centralized intranet. Finally, we updated our annual performance and ongoing coaching expectations for all people leaders, creating more standardized process and usable information for functions like high potential identification and succession planning.
While significant investments have been made on internal development, wide-net recruiting outside talent continues to infuse the Company with new and diverse perspectives. An expanded summer internship program coupled with an aggressive campus recruitment program has created a pipeline of young talent, while at the same time we continue to attract some of the most talented senior leaders from around the country to fill key leadership positions.
Trex continues to be committed to building a workforce that is reflective of the communities in which we operate. Embracing diverse perspectives and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging are at the core of what has fueled Trex’s legacy of invention and innovation. We continue to find new ways to increase opportunities for underrepresented team members, including offering English language classes for non-native speakers and partnering with local agencies to provide employment opportunities to neuro-diverse candidates.
As an equal opportunity employer, Trex is committed to providing fair and equitable pay for all employees across the Company. We have a strong track record as an industry leader in terms of hourly wages, salary and total compensation. We use a compensation grade structure as part of our process to determine the appropriate grade level for each position at Trex. As a result, we set the pay range for each position before considering who we might hire to fill that role. In addition, we regularly review our compensation structures for signs of emerging inequities along gender or ethnicity lines as well as market competitiveness. Our employees are not covered by collective bargaining agreements and we believe that our relationships with our employees are favorable. Our Human Rights Policy sets forth our values related to working conditions and human rights, and it underscores our philosophy about the way we conduct our business. The policy is available at www.trex.com/our-company .
We know our people are what will fuel our future growth and innovation and we are committed to reinvesting in our people and executing our strategic talent management plan at the highest level.
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Corporate Governance
Information related to the Company’s governance and related activities and programs may be found in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on March 21, 2023 in Schedule 14A. Also, a copy of the Company’s Code of Conduct and Ethics (Code) is maintained on the Company’s web site at www.trex.com/our-company. The Company has a whistle-blowing policy included in its Code that encourages reporting by employees of activities the employee considers illegal or dishonest. Each employee is notified of the whistle-blower policy and a toll-free hotline is provided for reporting issues directly to the Board of Directors and the Company’s Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary.
Environmental and Occupational Safety
Environmental
The Company has been committed to sustainability since our inception more than 30 years ago, creating eco-friendly products from reclaimed and recycled materials. Trex Residential’s high-performance, low-maintenance composite decking is made from 95% recycled and reclaimed materials. The Company’s commitment to improving our environmental footprint includes developing and offering more sustainable products to the market as well as advancing sustainability and efficiency in our operations. From continuous improvement in our manufacturing practices that reduce the use of energy to making products using industry leading high levels of reclaimed and recycled materials, the Company is able to improve the use of resources, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste streams. The foundation for our commitment to sustainability includes, but is not limited to:
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Using recycled, reclaimed and other waste resources whenever possible in our manufacturing process;
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Preventing pollution by maintaining environmental management as a core value;
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Reducing waste generated in our manufacturing and business operations;
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Developing and using environmentally acceptable, safe and efficient production methods; and
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Identifying and complying with all legal and statutory requirements.
Our Environmental Policy, located on our web site at www.trex.com/our-company, outlines our commitment to conducting business in an ethical and socially responsible manner that respects the environment.
The Nominating / Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors oversees the Company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters that are significant to the Company. Periodically, the Committee reviews the Company’s ESG strategy, initiatives and policies and receives updates from the Group Vice President, Marketing and ESG Development, who oversees the Company’s ESG initiatives. Also, environmental matters relevant to the Company’s operations are the responsibility of the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and the Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary.
Trex Residential’s proprietary, eco-friendly processing method minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, and our bi-coastal factories reduce fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions. We strive to reduce energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions in Trex manufacturing operations by designing our facilities to run efficiently. In addition, almost 100 percent of our factory runoff and refuse are recycled back into the manufacturing line. Any product that does not meet quality specifications is reprocessed, which eliminates the need for landfill.
The Company’s primary resource usage consists of water, natural gas and electricity. The Company develops budgets and plans that improve shareholder return by ensuring the optimal use of each resource, which promotes resource efficiency and minimal waste of the resource. Water management is of critical importance to us. Our Virginia and Nevada manufacturing facilities have closed-loop recirculation systems that run water through multiple
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cycles of re-use before being returned to the municipal wastewater stream. We prioritize energy savings as part of our ongoing evaluation and optimization of business operations and manufacturing processes. We regularly assess environmental impacts at each stage of our manufacturing process and seek to continually improve our performance. We ensure that all manufacturing facilities meet emission standards for the locality in which they operate and certify to applicable authorities that our emissions are within the relevant locality’s standards.
Market Recognition of Trex Brand’s Environmental Characteristics
The Company’s internal standards for environmental stewardship and product integrity are recognized year-over-year in the marketplace. Trex Transcend ® Lineage ™ was named as a 2023 Sustainable Product of the Year by Green Builder Media. In addition, Trex was also recognized as Sustainable Brand Leader in the decking category of Green Builder’s annual Reader’s Choice Survey for the 13 th consecutive year. Trex also earned the Lowe’s 2023 Sustainability Award, recognition as one of the 100 Best ESG Companies for 2023 by Investor’s Business Daily and Trex was ranked by Newsweek magazine as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024.
Trex environmental benefits are recognized by the receipt of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the United States Green Building Council. Trex Residential decking products meet LEED requirements for builders and our commercial products have contributed to the LEED certifications of some high-profile venues. LEED is a point-based system designed to reward points to building projects that incorporate efficient, and safe eco-friendly products, leading to a building’s designation as LEED Silver, Gold or Platinum. Trex Residential decking can add up to five points to a project — four points in the Materials and Resources category for being composed of 95% recycled and reclaimed materials, and one point in the Innovation and Design category. As a U.S. Green Building Council member, Trex works along with council members to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated with the goal of creating environmentally and socially responsible spaces that improve the quality of life.
Occupational Health and Safety
The health and safety of our employees is our highest priority. We have a strong Environmental, Health and Safety program that focuses on developing and implementing policies and effective safety training programs, as well as performing internal safety assessments to ensure a company-wide culture of safety and accountability.
The Trex Occupational Health and Safety Policy, located on our website at www.trex.com/our-company , sets forth our commitment to sustaining a compliant and safety-conscious work environment, keeping safety at the forefront of our business, and is based on:
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Compliance with statutory, regulatory and other legal requirements;
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A comprehensive understanding of worker expectations;
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Demonstrating employee safety leadership in all processes while striving to consistently improve performance; and
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Tracking company and site level safety performance metrics including common lagging indicators, such as injury rates, but also leading indicators such as safety observations, near-misses, and proactive actions taken at the sites to ensure worker safety.
Each of our manufacturing sites has a dedicated health and safety (EHS) coordinator and committee. The Site EHS Managers ensure safety is at the forefront of our manufacturing operations every day. Employee representatives on the Process Safety Committee meet monthly to collect, discuss and act upon safety feedback from their colleagues. Our active Process Safety Committees perform safety audits and observations, review and trend all incidents, and participate in all Pre-Startup Safety Reviews and are an example of our robust employee engagement in safety. Long term, the Company is committed to pursuing Occupational Health and Safety Administration Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) recognition and is an active participant in state level VPP
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development programs. The Company is a member of the Voluntary Protection Program Participants Association, the National Safety Council, and the National Fire Protection Association. Also, we support all EHS staff in becoming Certified Occupational Safety Specialists and obtaining the Certificate for Occupational Safety Managers through programs offered by the Federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
Websites and Additional Information
The U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) maintains an Internet web site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements, and other information regarding our Company. Our website is www.trex.com. In addition, we maintain an Internet corporate web site at www.trex.com/our-company/investor-relations. We make available through our web site our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file with or furnish such material to the SEC. We do not charge any fees to view, print, or access these reports on our web site. The contents of our web site are not a part of this report.