The Shifting Regulatory Landscape for 2026

As the regulatory playing field affecting the printing and graphics industry continues to develop, companies face an evolving landscape of workplace safety expectations, environmental regulations, chemical restrictions, and packaging laws. According to Gary Jones, Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety Affairs at PRINTING United Alliance, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for printers navigating compliance and sustainability.

Gary Jones, Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety Affairs, PRINTING United Alliance

From changes at OSHA to state-by-state environmental mandates, Jones says businesses need to stay informed and proactive; noting may changes are happening on the state level, making it a challenge to keep track of ongoing developments.

A New Direction at OSHA

One of the most notable developments, Jones says, is a shift in philosophy at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Jones recounted a recent presentation by David Keeling, the newly appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, from which he came away optimistic.

“What really struck me,” Jones says, “was that he wants to change the relationship with small business. Instead of it being adversarial, which it historically has been, he wants to make it more cooperative.”

While OSHA remains an enforcement agency, Keeling emphasized a broader focus on education and outreach. “What I got from that conversation,” Jones explains,” is that he wants to use inspectors not just to enforce, but also to educate. So, it appears that Keeling wants inspectors to enforce OSHA’s regulations, there may be some outreach and education occurring.”

This approach reflects Keeling’s experience leading safety programs at UPS and Amazon. He often questioned what companies really learned from inspections. “He said a lot of times companies were like, ‘We don’t know,’” Jones says. “So now, inspectors will hopefully leave behind more than just citations — they’ll leave behind knowledge.”

Another new initiative is OSHA’s Safety Champions Program, a voluntary, self-guided framework designed to help businesses improve their own safety cultures. “It’s really meant for all-sizes of businesses,” Jones says. “You can move at your own pace, and if you need help, there’s a network of support.”

Unlike OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), which Joes describes as resource-intensive and typically suited for large corporations, the new Safety Champions Program is more accessible for small and mid-sized businesses, including printers. “This is really for small businesses,” he emphasizes. “That’s what makes it interesting.”

Heat Illness Prevention Rule

One of the most anticipated regulatory developments is OSHA’s proposed heat illness prevention rule. Although a previous proposal stalled, Jones believes momentum is building for its finalization.

“There’s just too much pressure to do something on heat illness prevention,” he says. “It’s not going to be what was proposed in the previous administration — it won’t be as prescriptive and one-size-fits-all. It’s going to be more performance-oriented.”

Rather than dictating exact procedures, the rule is expected to establish goals, such as employee training and access to water and shade. “They won’t tell you how to train or exactly when,” Jones explains. “They’ll say you have to train, and these are the things you have to cover.”

Though summer is approaching quickly, timing remains uncertain. “If they’re going to do something, they’ve got to do it pretty soon,” Jones notes. “Otherwise, [the regulation] may not come until 2027.”

Extended Producer Responsibility

On the environmental regulation front, extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws are rapidly expanding across the U.S., and the impact on printers — especially those in packaging — is growing.

“There are now seven states that have EPR legislation on the books,” Jones says. “Oregon and California are closest to implementation, and Colorado is right behind them.”

Under these laws, companies introducing packaging into the market must pay fees based on volume, material type, and recyclability. “If it’s recyclable, the fee will be less. If it’s difficult to recycle, the fee will be higher,” Jones explains.

This creates both financial and data challenges, Jones says, and customers will increasingly demand detailed reporting on packaging materials.

“They’re going to need to know how much packaging and what type,” he adds. “And most importantly, is it recyclable?”

Even more concerning, Jones says, is the lack of business-to-business exemptions in some states, particularly California.

“If you’re shipping packaged, printed materials into California, you could be considered a producer. You would have to register and start paying fees on the volume of packaging you’re putting into the market. I don’t think people realize that. That’s why it’s critical for printers to understand what’s coming.”

Changing Chemical Regulations

Chemical regulation remains another area of rapid change. Carbon black, a common pigment in printing inks, continues to face legislative scrutiny at the state level.

“New Jersey just introduced legislation where the ban on carbon black is back in play,” Jones says. “We’re going to have to push back [on the state] again.”

Meanwhile, PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” and which are often used in water-resistant coatings, inks, laminates, and textiles—are drawing intense attention. New Mexico, for instance now requires warning labels on products intentionally containing PFAS.

“If your inks or coatings contain PFAS, then you and your customers would have to register and put a warning label on it,” Jones explains. He says the best approach is to simply get rid of PFAS. “They need to go,” he adds.

Jones also encourages printers to conduct comprehensive PFAS audits, urging them to look at inks, coatings, substrates, and textiles. “If it’s water resistant,” he says, “there’s a good chance it might contain PFAS.”

Changes in Recycling Label Laws

Regarding recycling, Jones says California’s Senate Bill 343, which governs recycling labeling, may be the most aggressive law in the nation. It establishes a “60/60 rule” where at least 60% of the population must have access to recycling material, and 60% of recycling facilities must be able to process it. If a material doesn’t reach that 60/60, Jones explains, then the recycling symbol can’t be used.

Other states, including New York and Oregon, are considering similar rules. “We’re going to see more of these labeling laws pop up,” Jones predicts.

The intent of the rules is to prevent greenwashing, but Jones notes the complexity of recycling. “Technically, a lot of stuff is recyclable,” he says, “but is there a market for it? That’s the real challenge.”

EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

One of the most troubling regulatory bottlenecks, Jones says, exists in EPA’s chemical approval process under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

“EPA is supposed to approve or deny a chemical within 90 days,” he explains. “But there are chemicals that have been waiting six or seven years.”

He says this also affects UV-cured inks and coatings. “Photo initiators for LED curing are a big issue,” Jones says. “They can’t get approvals, and that drives up costs.”

This delay, he says, is stifling innovation. “Companies are going outside the U.S. because the E.U. process is more efficient.” In addition, it is preventing the introduction of safer, less toxic chemicals.

The problem, Jones says, stems from EPA’s expansive “conditions of use” approach, within which the agency examines every conceivable use of a chemical, not just the intended application,” Jones explains. “Manufacturers are saying, ‘We only want approval for this one use.’”

He cites pigment violet 29 as a prime example. He says that even though the pigment is not used printing inks, the printing industry, was “pulled into a multi-year risk assessment anyway.”

Preparing for the Regulatory Future

Looking ahead, Jones emphasizes that printers must stay proactive. “This is going to be ongoing for years,” he says. “Between EPR, chemical bans, labeling laws, and OSHA reforms, there’s a lot to track.”

He urges companies to engage with industry associations and pay attention to regulatory updates. “Not everybody reads every bulletin,” Jones admits. “But staying informed is critical.”

Still, the complexity of overlapping state and federal regulations will require vigilance. “We’ve got to try to keep this stuff sorted,” he says, “because the cost of missing something is only getting higher.”