The production of econyl (polyamide or nylon from recycled raw materials) means a technological innovation in the processing of basic raw materials for plastic material production. "It is the only plant of its type in the world and is the result of two years of work performed by an international team of experts. “We are convinced that the only way to attract buyers in future decades is with a product that is not harmful to the environment", said Mr. Giulio Bonazzi, CEO of Aquafil, the Italian company that owns Julon. In cooperation with research institutions (including the University of Ljubljana), Aquafil developed a technological procedure that is the first to enable complete recycling of polyamide 6 from waste. Currently, the most important sources of the raw material replacing oil are floor coverings and fishing nets collected by Aquafil from all over the world. “Production capacity in Ljubljana is 10,000 tons per year, which means 9% of the annual volume of polyamide 6 required by Aquafil. We would like to increase this percentage," said Mr. Bonazzi. The group with headquarters in Italy became the owner of Julon in 1995. Since Julon has a tradition in production and processing of granulates and fibres, state aid was also an important factor in the decision to build a plant with state-of-the-art technology in the branch. “Julon invested EUR 17.3 million, of which 12.4 million were costs that allowed us to apply for a 30% state grant,” said Mr. Edi Kraus, Director-General of Julon. Last year, the grant donated by the state to the company amounted to EUR 3.6 million, but the company had to commit itself to open a minimum of 45 demanding work places (primarily for chemical engineers and technologists). This commitment has already been exceeded, as 70 people have been employed in association with the new production implementation. Within the framework of polyamide production from waste materials, Julon also prepared a sorting facility in Ajdovščina, where ten employees mechanically process materials for recycling. Slovenia does not want to be a country with a cheap labour force; therefore, investments providing jobs with higher added value are very important.