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through a recovery and recycling process. Recovered nets are often left in natural environments, sent to landfills or simply burned. Through the “Healthy Seas” programme, they are regenerated into ECONYL® yarn, the raw material used to create new high-quality products such as socks, swimwear, underwear and carpets.Abandoned fishing nets are still an open wound in our ecosystem. According to a joint report prepared by FAO and UNEP, it is estimated that abandoned nets adrift in our ocean represent a tenth of all marine litter, and weigh around 640,000 tonnes. These nets remain in the ocean for hundreds of years and are responsible for the injury and death of dolphins and other marine animals such as turtles and birds. The fishing net recovery initiative is growing with the help of volunteer divers and the cooperation of fishing communities in the ports of Belgium, The Netherlands, Croatia, Greece and Italy. In the first three years of activity it is estimated that the initiative has collected more than 160 tonnes of fishing nets.In addition to recovering waste, we believe it is imperative to rethink product design so that it takes into account the end of a product’s life. It is for this reason that we have committed our support to the European project EcoMeTex. The aim of this project is to optimize the recovery and recycling of materials in carpet productions. Aquafil is participating in the project as both a producer of nylon fibers and as a final recycler.Finally, we believe that in order for the entire supply chain to be sustainable, it is necessary to work closely with all of the organizations that take part in it. For this reason, we have begun to examine our role in the processes that we do not directly control, such as logistics, packaging and supplementary raw materials. In order to do this, we launched the ‘ECONYL® Qualified’ project, which aims to stimulate excellence and innovation in the supply chain to make the ECONYL® Regeneration System even more virtuous.By partnering with a number of suppliers, we have created guidelines (ECONYL® Qualified Protocol) by which the suppliers have to compete for the recognition of “ECONYL® Qualified” supplier.At the moment, obtaining the protocol is voluntary. As of July 1, 2018, it will be mandatory for all companies wishing to act as an Aquafil product or service supplier in the production and marketing of ECONYL® yarn. ■ABOUT THE AUTHORGiulio Bonazzi is Chairman, President and CEO of Aquafil S.p.A. Having graduated with a degree in Pictured: Giulio BonazziLeft: NYLON 6 YarnBusiness Administration from the University degli Studi di Venezia, in 1987 he began his professional commitment to the family business Aquafil. After a year alongside the commercial direction and Aquafil technique, he participated in a 6-month internship at Horizon Carpet in the United States. In 1989, he was appointed as Assistant Director at the Arco plant production; within a year he took on full responsibility. In 1991, he became the representative of the factory in Rovereto, restructuring the factory with the goal to obtain a balanced budget and increase productivity. At the beginning of 1992, he was in charge of restructuring Tessilbrenta, one of the family businesses. He dealt with the relocation plan in Slovenia, participating in the acquisition of the plant in Kranij. In 1994, he returned to Aquafil where he prepared for the acquisition of Julon d.d., the company that would become a fundamental asset for the Group. From 1995 to 1998, he was the General Manager of Julon and moved with his family to Slovenia. In 1999, he returned to Italy as Vice-President of Aquafil, becoming President of the Group in 2008. On June 2 2013 he was appointed as Knight of Labor (US). He acted as President of CIRFS (European Association Synthetic Fibers) from 2011 to 2014. Since June 2015, he has been the Chairman of Confindustria Trento. ABOUT AQUAFILAquafil is a Group that was established in 1969 in Arco, in the province of Trento. It is active in the production of Nylon 6, with a specific focus in yarn production for textile flooring. Within this segment, Aquafil is the European market leader with more than a 40 per cent share and also holds the second place position worldwide. In addition, the company has extensive experience in synthetic yarns for the apparel segment.The Group employs around 2,700 employees and operates on three continents: Europe, America and Asia. On these three continents, Aquafil has 16 production sites: in Italy (4), Slovenia (4), Croatia (1) UK (1), Germany (2), United States of America (2), China (1) and Thailand (1).Aquafil operates by means of two business units: the BCF business unit that manufactures synthetic yarns for carpeting and the NTF business unit that produces yarn for clothing. In 2008, it added a third business unit, Energy & Recycling, which transversally supports the other business units on energy, recycling and sustainability culture.In 2015, Aquafil achieved a turnover of about 500 million euros, of which 80 per cent was generated in international markets.Contact Details:Maria Giovanna SandriniBrand and Communication Manager AQUAFIL S.pAVia Linfano 9 - 38062 Arco (TN) - Italy - Ph: +390464581106e-mail: Maria.Giovanna.Sandrini@aquafil.comITALIAN BUSINESS SHOWCASE 025