Why Choosing TimberTech Is One of the Greenest Decisions You Can Make for Your Backyard

allison9613
Apr 21
4 min read

When most homeowners think about building a deck, sustainability isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind. Material cost, aesthetics, maintenance — those tend to lead the conversation. But if you're weighing composite decking against traditional wood, the environmental case for TimberTech is worth understanding. It's stronger than most people expect.

As Utah's local TimberTech distributor, we want our customers to know exactly what they're buying — and why it matters beyond just the deck boards themselves.

The Problem with Wood Decking

Pressure-treated lumber and exotic hardwoods like ipe have long been the go-to for outdoor decks. But the environmental cost of those materials is significant. Ipe, in particular, is frequently sourced from old-growth forests in South America — and studies estimate that a substantial portion of it enters the supply chain through illegal harvesting.

Beyond sourcing, wood decking simply doesn't last as long as composite. A typical pressure-treated deck may last 10–15 years before it needs significant repairs or replacement. Every replacement cycle means more lumber, more chemical treatments, and more material headed to the landfill.

What TimberTech Is Made Of

TimberTech decking isn't just "not wood" — it's built from a carefully engineered mix of recycled polymers and reclaimed wood fibers. Depending on the product line, boards contain somewhere between 65% and 85% recycled content. That includes materials like plastic bags, milk jugs, and construction scrap that would otherwise end up in landfills.

TimberTech is the largest vertically integrated recycler of PVC in the United States — meaning they don't just use recycled material, they control the full process of collecting, processing, and manufacturing it into finished product. That's a level of supply chain accountability that's rare in the building materials industry.

The Numbers That Tell the Story

TimberTech tracks its environmental impact in concrete terms, and the results are significant:

~2.6 billion pounds of waste repurposed since 2019 — plastic and wood scrap diverted from landfills and turned into decking, railing, and outdoor living products.

~500 million pounds of potentially landfill-bound waste redirected every single year, with a stated goal of reaching 1 billion pounds annually.

~95% of manufacturing water recycled through closed-loop filtration systems at their facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Idaho.

~99% of internal production scrap reused — virtually no manufacturing waste leaves their facilities as waste.

4 million+ trees preserved since 2001, because homeowners chose composite over wood.

And from a carbon standpoint, lifecycle assessments show TimberTech's composite boards carry a carbon footprint up to 89% lower than ipe over the life of the product — a gap that widens further when you factor in ipe's short lifespan and the emissions tied to deforestation.

Built to Last - Which Is the Point

Sustainability isn't just about what goes into a product. It's about how long that product stays out of the waste stream.

A TimberTech deck is engineered to outlast a wood deck by decades. No rotting, no splintering, no annual sealing or staining. When a product lasts longer, you buy it once — and that single purchase does far less environmental damage than the repeated replacement cycle of a wood deck.

TimberTech Advanced PVC boards are also recyclable at the end of their lifespan, contributing to what the company calls a circular model of production.

Going Further: The FULL-CIRCLE PVC Recycling Program

TimberTech runs a program called FULL-CIRCLE PVC Recycling that gives dealers and contractors a free, easy way to return post-construction PVC and vinyl scrap instead of sending it to the landfill. That leftover trim, waste board ends, and cut-off material from your job site? It goes back into new product.

It's the kind of closed-loop thinking that makes composite decking a genuinely different category from wood — not just aesthetically, but systemically.

Recognized

TimberTech's sustainability work has earned recognition from a range of organizations, including Good Housekeeping, Green Builder (Sustainable Product of the Year), Positive Luxury, and TIME's list of the world's best companies in sustainable growth. They're also a Gold member of the U.S. Green Building Council, which means their products can support LEED certification for qualifying projects.

This matters if you're a contractor building for clients who care about green certifications, or a homeowner who wants your outdoor project to reflect your values.

What This Means If You're Building in Utah

Utah's outdoor environment is tough on materials. Extreme temperature swings, UV exposure, freeze-thaw cycles — these conditions chew through wood decking faster than the national average, which makes the long-lifespan argument for TimberTech even stronger here.

Choosing a composite deck in Utah isn't just a lifestyle decision. It's a smarter long-term investment that also happens to be the more environmentally responsible choice.

We Stock It Locally — No Wait, No Freight Delays

At Wasatch Deck & Rail Supply, we keep TimberTech decking, railing, and accessory products in stock right here in Murray. No waiting on a freight shipment, no minimum order headaches — just local supply with people who know the product and can help you choose the right line for your project and budget.

Whether you're a DIYer planning a backyard deck or a contractor quoting a multi-phase job, we can help you work through material calculations, product selection, and anything else you need to get started.

Call us at 385-469-0063 or stop by at 6537 S Cottonwood St, Murray, UT 84107.

We're here to help you build something that lasts — and something you can feel good about.

Wasatch Deck & Rail Supply is Utah's trusted local distributor of TimberTech decking, railing, and outdoor living materials. We serve contractors and DIY homeowners across the Wasatch Front with in-stock materials, expert guidance, and support that keeps projects moving.