Plastic Lumber Industry Consolidation

As Greenstone Industries and Louisiana-Pacific did in the cellulose insulation industry, U.S. Plastic Lumber (USPL) is now buying up local manufacturers and creating the first truly national brand in recycled plastic lumber. Since acquiring Earth Care Global Holdings, Inc. in March 1996, USPL has been selling products under the Earth Care name. Earth Care now has manufacturing expertise in recycled plastic lumber, products fabricated from plastic lumber, plastic signs, plastic rings used for handling steel drums, and recycled plastic railroad ties. Seeking vertical integration, the company also has significant collection and processing capacity for recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the primary component of all these products. USPL also has a Clean Earth division that treats contaminated soils.

In 1997 U.S. Plastic Lumber acquired: