Gary Jones: Regulatory Firefighter and Certification Authority

Regulatory Firefighter and Certification Authority

For decades, the fight for a greener printing industry has played out in courtrooms, committee meetings and legislative hearings—and Gary A. Jones has remained on the front lines. As Vice President of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Affairs at PRINTING United Alliance, his role is active and essential. He continuously monitors volatile regulatory shifts at the EPA, OSHA, CPSC DOT, and other agencies, challenges punitive state bans on printing inks and defends the operational integrity of manufacturers across the country.

His work is both technical and tactical. He is a key person in the ongoing defense against regulatory creep and recurring compliance threats. It’s the essential, demanding labor that keeps the industry moving. Yet Gary’s strategic value isn’t defined only by the fires he’s extinguished; it’s the permanent structure he co-founded and continues to strengthen to prevent them: the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP).

“We can’t spend our resources fighting the same EPA and OSHA violations year after year,” Gary often states. “The only way to get off the compliance treadmill is to adopt a system, like SGP criteria, that prevents the risk.” Gary believes that while compliance is a tactical necessity, certification is a strategic advantage.

Creating the Standard

Together with his colleagues Marcia Kinter and Doreen Monteleone who represented other printing industry associations, Gary helped co-found SGP to develop a credible, holistic definition of a sustainable operation. Their work created the essential standard for sustainability in the printing industry.

This commitment to self-governance was a bold act of coalition-building across historically competitive associations. Their shared vision shifted the printing community to stop thinking solely about recycling and VOCs and start focusing on systems transformation as a continuous process that Gary actively shepherds through his regulatory expertise.

“The most effective environmental policy isn’t imposed by a government agency; it’s owned and defined by the professionals who live it every day,” said Jones. “That’s the power of SGP as it embodies continuous improvement.”

The SGP framework is dynamic by design. It evolves because Gary and his peers remain deeply engaged with the shifting realities of EHS and regulatory risk. His contributions ensure that SGP’s criteria are grounded in unshakable technical foundation, making them the industry’s most robust shield against litigation and future regulation.

Active, Ongoing Leadership

Gary’s expertise in EHS compliance and sustainability formed the backbone of SGP’s criteria, but his influence extends far beyond policy. He serves simultaneously as a technical authority and a highly effective mentor for companies seeking certification under SGP.

As a Board of Director and a member of the SGP Technical Committee, Gary ensures the SGP certification remains robust and relevant. “Gary demonstrates his commitment to a more sustainable future every day through his work and his continued leadership of SGP,” said Birdley Jame, SGP Chair. “His mastery of EHS issues, regulation and certification is unmatched and this knowledge directly informs the strength of our Technical Committee. We simply couldn’t function as well without his devotion to the profession, our industry and the people who rely on him for guidance in this complex regulatory landscape.”

Gary has also been a driving force in helping develop and coach the SGP leadership team. “Gary’s coaching was critical to my growth as an SGP leader,” said Jonathan Graham, SGP Past Chair and Chair of the SGP Foundation. “He helped me shift my focus from simple compliance to using SGP’s standards and EHS trends to build real business strength. His ability to translate complex regulatory jargon into clear, strategic action is what allows us to move beyond playing defense and actively set the industry’s pace.”

Defining the Standard, Not Just Defending the Industry

The work of regulatory defense will always be necessary. Gary Jones’s leadership gives the printing industry and its supply chain a powerful, proactive advantage.

Today, SGP certification stands as the industry’s most proactive defense against regulatory risk. It’s a governance framework that empowers facilities to move beyond simple compliance and lead meaningful change within their supply chains.

“The true measure of a sustainable future is how resilient it is,” said Jones. “It’s our responsibility to keep building systems and improving SGP criteria, ensuring our standard remains robust against the inevitable changes including those that occur in the law.”

Gary’s work defining the standard and continuing to lead is the ultimate model for commitment to a sustainable and resilient future.