Staff Spotlight: Jay Ashworth

Next up for our staff spotlight is Jay Ashworth! Jay is the son of our founder, Rusty, and our Director of Sustainability at Associated Labels and Packaging. He spearheads all of our sustainable initiatives internally and externally, and we’re so lucky to have his expertise on our team!

1) How long have you worked at Associated?

Over ten years!

2) Describe your journey at Associated so far.

Being the youngest son of our founder Rusty Ashworth meant my journey had unique origins. While in kindergarten, my entire class was invited to our facility to take a tour. We were dazzled by seeing labels come alive through the CMYK process, fluorescent label stocks and rotary darkroom doors.

I remember working in production in my early teens, making boxes, sweeping and emptying garbage bins for packs of hockey cards and Slurpees. My mid-teens signalled an end to care-free summers and the start of real paycheques. I worked where I was needed, often in the shipping department, ripping around on a forklift or rewinding rolls of labels.

During my university degree, I was pulled towards environmental sustainability. Being in the manufacturing industry meant that projects were initially focused on operational projects with high ROI and efficiencies.

After taking a hiatus to pursue other opportunities, I came back and split my time between continuing our sustainability goals and developing our very new marketing department. My role was divided into thirds while being part of the core team that transformed our company to IFS Certification.

Sustainability, at this point, had evolved beyond internal processes and into some very early compostable packaging developments. Our scope of considering started to expand beyond ourselves as we looked into helping our customers reach their sustainability goals beyond packaging. Often, this meant doing our due diligence in vetting our suppliers and looking closer at our supply chain.

The transformation of my role has taken a giant leap forward by participating in a Regenerative Institute, where I have come to understand how to be a resource for our company. These foundational practices and principles have shifted my role towards a developmental path and systems change of our industry.

3) How would you describe the work environment?

Manufacturing is incredibly complicated and I like the Venn diagram demonstrating the printing and packaging industry as a combination of art, chemistry, and technology.

4) What is your favourite thing about working here?

I really enjoy working on projects with teams that transcend departments/roles and create space for collective thinking and strategizing.

5) What's been your best day at work so far?

Anytime that I connect with someone on a deeper level leaves me feeling energized and excited. 

6) What are you most proud of since working here?

Seeing our employees evolve and change when facing challenging times.

7) What is the biggest challenge you've had since working here?

To restrain from being a sustainability expert, and instead build the capacity for others to understand or be involved.

8) Do you have a particular moment or memory at Associated that stands out for you?

Walking through production the night before our IFS Certification and seeing how far we had all come as a team in a very short period of time.

9) What does a typical day look like for you, and what are you currently working on?

Working with operations, suppliers, and customers on sustainability projects. Applying regenerative concepts and frameworks with management and leadership towards our corporate direction.

10) Describe the advancement opportunities here. 

Our company has always prided itself on developing our family of employees from within.

11) How does Associated support professional development?

By listening to and planning with those who voice interest in doing so themselves.

12) What is on your wish list for the next 5 years?

To see our employees and company evolve the industry we serve using regenerative practices.

13) Given the chance, who would you be for a day?

An astronaut!