Why is sustainability important? Simply put, being sustainable safeguards our natural environment while driving innovation that allows us to maintain our current way of life. The key is to use our resources efficiently so future generations can have the same quality of life as we do.
At TimberTech, being sustainable is part and parcel of our core value: Do the Right Thing. We are committed to creating beautiful, high-quality products sustainably. How? Through sustainable manufacturing practices and innovative recycling initiatives, such as the AZEK Full-Circle PVC Recycling™ program. This first-of-its-kind program collects, returns, and recycles scrap PVC from contractors, dealers, and mill shops.
What Are Sustainability Pillars?
When answering the question “why is sustainability important?” we need to look at the broad topic through the lens of the three sustainability pillars:
Environmental Protection
(Planet)
Focuses on the safeguarding of our planet’s environment, biodiversity, and natural resources.
Economic Development
(Profit)
Focuses on how businesses, communities, and individuals can invest in sustainability.
Social
Development
(People)
Focuses on ensuring every person has access to basic resources and a safe, sustainable environment in which to live and work.
When a business, community, or individual strives to implement all three of these pillars, serious strides toward greater sustainability can be made.
How You Can Make a Difference
Ways to implement these pillars into your own life include:
- Environmental sustainability: Incorporating sustainable practices into your everyday life.
- Economic sustainability: Purchasing sustainable products and services.
- Social sustainability: Investing in green building practices for your home.
Now that you know the three pillars, you’re ready to learn more about each.
1.) Discover Your Personal Path Toward Environmental Sustainability
Becoming more sustainable is about starting with small changes. But why is sustainability important to an individual like you? Over time, small changes you make can deliver big impacts such as a reduction of your energy usage and significant cost savings.
Small Sustainable Changes to Start With
- Switching to LED lightbulbs.
- Improving your home’s insulation.
- Choosing reusable items like a reusable water bottle over its plastic counterpart.
As you become more comfortable with these smaller changes, you can up the ante and start making larger commitments to living more sustainably.
2.) Explore Economic Sustainability Through Sustainable Products
Economic development in terms of sustainability isn’t just for big businesses. Individuals can make a huge impact by investing in products and services that are made sustainably and from recycled materials.
If you’re thinking of building or renovating your outdoor living space, TimberTech has you covered with sustainable decking options to reduce your environmental impact.
Choose Recycled Decking Material
Choosing recycled decking material, like TimberTech® decking, reduces the amount of virgin lumber being used in deck building. This in turn reduces deforestation and keeps millions of pounds of waste out of landfills each year.
Plus, recycled decking material is beneficial to you and your family.
How Recycled Decking Material Benefits You
Gives You High-Value, Low-Maintenance Solutions
Our products require no sanding, staining, or sealing, which are costly and can release potentially harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Delivers Enduring Beauty
Our decking boasts the nature-inspired colors and grain patterns of real wood, without the fading, staining, and weathering associated with traditional lumber.
Helps the Planet
Choosing boards made from recycled material means you refrain from contributing to harmful deforestation and instead support a more sustainable future.
Why is sustainability important in the decking industry? Choosing a sustainable decking brand like TimberTech shows that you support sustainable manufacturing practices — and the benefits that come with them.
Preserving Resources & Protecting Earth
Because homeowners like you choose TimberTech, we’ve been able to:
- Save more than 3 million trees since 2001 from being cut down.
- Divert more than 500 million pounds of scrap from landfills in 2021.
- Recycle up to 97% of water annually in our closed-loop water filtration system.
Understanding the Types of Composite Decking
TimberTech offers two different types of composite decking: premium capped polymer decking (TimberTech® AZEK®) and capped composite decking (TimberTech PRO® and EDGE®).
Two Decking Material Options,
One Mission: A Better Planet
Both our capped polymer and capped composite decking lines are made with a majority percentage of recycled material.
Both provide enduring beauty, longevity, and value — all while letting you nix the wood deck stain. Each line offers different benefits, so find out more about each type to decide which is the right one for you.
3.) Do Your Part for Social Sustainability by Building a More Sustainable Home
Social development in terms of sustainability is all about the human element: How do we create work and living environments that support and protect human health and encourage a high quality of life? One answer is through the use of sustainable building materials, such as sustainable composite decking.
Using sustainable building materials and adhering to sustainable building practices can make your home eligible for LEED certification.
Why Strive for LEED Certification?
LEED-certified homes have many benefits for you and your family, including:
- Can increase resale value of your home.
- Saves you money on utility bills thanks to energy and water-conserving practices.
- Improves your family’s health through the restricted use of harmful chemicals and improved air quality.
So, Why Is Sustainability Important?
While the paths toward greater sustainability and a healthier planet are many, the importance of sustainability is clear.
SUSTAINABILITY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
Earth-friendly practices improve the health of the planet, our families, and our communities.
Sustainability efforts will always support ways of living that work with nature, instead of against it.
Beginning your sustainability journey can start from anywhere — but building a sustainable, inviting home is one truly rewarding place to start.
Kickstart your outdoor living project and find the right decking choice for you by ordering up to four free samples of TimberTech decking.
When you’ve made your choice, don’t throw those samples away — upcycle them and keep them out of the landfill.
See & feel the TimberTech advantage
Our capped PVC and capped composite decking lines combine recycled material with all the beauty of traditional wood.
