ECOFLEX / noun 1. a wood and plastic composite material consisting of finely ground recycled poplar wood and BPA-free recycled high density plastic. 2. made by grinding wood into a fine powder and mixing with plastic at a liquid level; molded to form panels. 3. composite material is used in military aircraft, appliances, automobiles, buildings, roads, bridges, bathroom fixtures, wall panels, roofing, sports and recreational equipment, naval boats, and more. The Composite Material: A Brief History Composite materials are made from two or more constituent materials that significantly differentiate in physical or chemical properties. When combined, they produce a new material with its own individual physical and chemical characteristics. The most popular composite material in the world is concrete, made up of loose stones and a matrix of cement. Fiberglass, a composite material consisting of glass fibers and polymeric materials (polyester or epoxy), is also a globally used composite material. The earliest known composite materials were made with straw and mud and were combined to form bricks for building ancient tombs, houses, and other buildings. Wooden plants like bamboo and palms yield natural composits that were also widely used in ancient times. Layers of linen and papyrus were mixed with plaster as a composite to make death masks during the earliest periods of the Ancient Egyptian cultures. It's easy to see how composite materials have evolved from prehistoric times into modern uses. Wood and plastic composites (WPC) were introduced in America in the early 1990's as an alternative to outdoor wooden decking and soon moved into railings, fencing, park benches, molding and trim, window and door frames, indoor and outdoor furniture, and more Why The Pet Industry? NewAgePet® was started when our company owner, a prominent businessman from Hong Kong, discovered a new composite combination that was especially great at repelling moisture without using any toxicities or chemicals. Because WPC was still a new concept, especially in the pet industry, NewAgePet® began production of its first dog house a short time later and branded its custom WPC material as ECOFLEX®. ECOFLEX® + Outdoors = Awesome! ECOFLEX® is made to be outdoors! Because ECOFLEX® does not corrode and is highly resistant to rot, decay, and mildew, it can easily double or quadruple the life span of a standard wooden product. ECOFLEX® is a sustainable material made from reclaimed poplar woods sourced from Europe. We UV treat our woods to make sure there is no mold or bacteria before grinding it down into a fine powder. Our recycled plastics are all certified BPA free and provide your pet with the healthiest environment available. We began creating ECOFLEX® dog houses in early 2007 and soon expanded into the rabbit and chicken markets to include multi-level rabbit hutches and large chicken coops. We choose to stay in the pet industry because our composite material is the safest material available in the pet industry. Every ECOFLEX® product carries a 10 YEAR WARRANTY. We stand behind our material and appreciate you trusting us with housing your pets!