Sustainable Composite Decking with Fiberon

A Concise History

Recycling in the United States goes beyond placing plastic beverage bottles in a curbside collection bin. Post-consumer recycling is crucial in providing sorted waste streams for reclaim, but that’s not where the process ends. Companies that seek to manufacture new products from recycled contents can source reusable materials from collection centers where these materials are sorted by type—if there is enough recycled material available.

Manufacturing scrap—waste created during manufacturing—can supplement post-consumer material streams. In-plant size reduction machinery makes it possible for companies to reclaim manufacturing scrap by sorting it, shredding it, and reintegrating it into new products.

This is the circular economy in action.

Recycling initiatives at Fiberon

Fiberon, based out of New London, North Carolina, manufactures top-of-the-line composite decking. They do this by sourcing secondary polypropylene scrap—which is strong and easy to use and reuse—from various companies and combining it with a proprietary (recycled or post-industrial) wood fiber blend. The decking created is beautiful and will last for decades.

Environmental and economic benefits

The composite decking that Fiberon produces from recycled materials provides a substantial environmental benefit to the company while creating a new income stream.

Fiberon is a tangible example of what it means to recycle production scrap on the spot. They chose WEIMA as a recycling partner to provide size reduction equipment within their New London plant. This machinery breaks down the reclaimed material streams they have sourced to be used in various ways. WEIMA shredders are at the beginning of Fiberon’s process—the shredder takes the material and prepares it for conversion into something useful.