From November 13-14, 2014, the Aquafil Group supported and endorsed the inaugural roundtable meeting of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Organized by World Animal Protection, the roundtable meeting brought together UN agencies, industry leaders and non-governmental organizations to address the growing issue of ghost gear in oceans.

The initiative aims to achieve safer, cleaner oceans by driving sustainable solutions that address the issue at a global scale. The roundtable meeting brought together environmental thought leaders and governmental organizations with the goal to discuss and frame the structure and objectives of the initiative moving forward.
Delegates shared inspiring success stories of beach and ocean clean-up initiatives and profitable recycling projects that place monetary value on recovered ghost gear such as Nylon 6 fishing nets Aquafil uses to feed the ECONYL® Regeneration System.
The second morning of the meeting offered participants the opportunity to visit the ECONYL® plant where they could see how recovered ghost gear, along with other waste material, contributes to a circular economy. Aquafil offered delegates a glimpse into the manufacturing world to see how corporations can utilize recovered ghost gear to reintroduce to the market as new products. With Aquafil providing a successful example of producing new products from ghost gear, the initiative is optimistic there will be greater participation from corporations to help create a more circular economy.