By Susan L. Hornik

Television celebrities, nominees, and performers who attended the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14 received a variety of eco-friendly gifts at the ceremony’s official gift lounges.

Entertainment marketing company Distinctive Assets produced the Giving Suite, a backstage experience for nominees and presenters, who receive a curated selection of gifts as a thank you for supporting the Television Academy Foundation. 

The Emmy Awards Eco-Friendly Gifts at a Glance:

• Romonti — USDA-certified organic skincare and aromatherapy oils

• Havyn — allergen-free fragrance and skincare, formulated without all 82 known fragrance allergens

• PETA x Save the Duck — coat made without animal-derived materials

• Alter Eco — organic chocolate made with cacao from farmers replanting tropical forests in South America

“When I started Distinctive Assets 26 years ago, eco-friendly and cruelty-free products were more like rare jewels,” founder Lash Fary says. “It is so wonderful that in today’s product development ecosystem, it’s really become much more commonplace. I love that companies are choosing to do the right thing just as a natural evolution. More so than ever, this year’s Emmy Gift Bag is filled with products from Certified B Corporations, PETA-approved brands, and companies giving back.”

One of the products in the Emmy gift bag was from the organic skincare and aromatherapy line, Romonti.

“Having Romonti included in this gift bag means a great deal to me,” says founder Jong Hyeon Lee. “I spent three years developing our products alongside my medical studies, putting a lot of care into our USDA-certified organic oils and getting the scents just right. We also commissioned skin safety and moisturization testing as part of that process. It’s rewarding to share that work with people discovering us for the first time. My hope is that using the oils becomes a small pleasure in their day — a moment to slow down and care for themselves — and something they continue to enjoy long after the event.”

Christina Peng, founder and CEO of Havyn, an allergen-free fragrance and skin care line, also had products in the Emmy gift bag.

“We created Havyn with a simple belief — that people with sensitive skin shouldn’t have to give up the joy of beautiful fragrance — and it means so much to have the opportunity to introduce that idea to a wider audience,” Peng says. 

“We saw a gap for cleaner options for sensitive skin, as a lot of natural ingredients unfortunately also contain allergens. We were also seeing a lot of confusion about what ‘clean’ really meant,” she adds. “That’s why we looked to established global standards, including EU regulations, not just our own definition of clean, to guide what we leave out. And then we go beyond that to exclude all 82 known fragrance allergens and pair those standards with clinical testing of our finished formulas, so the consumer can have clean options they can feel confident in.” 

Also included were a coat made without animal-derived materials by PETA x Save the Duck and organic chocolate from Alter Eco, which sources its organic cacao from farmers who are replanting tropical forests in South America.

Sustainability at the GBK Brand Bar Luxury Lounge

• Alto Canto — additive-free tequila made with 100% USDA-certified organic agave

• Thyseed — reusable glass baby bottles made from recyclable, non-toxic materials

• Paradero Todos Santos — sustainable luxury hotel stay in Mexico

• Panama Blue Water — spring water bottled in glass at the source

Several 2026 Emmy nominees were on-hand at the GBK Brand Bar’s Luxury Lounge, including Christopher McDonald (Hacks), Dale Dickey (“Widow’s Bay”), and Carlos Manuel Vesga (“Pluribus”). Also seen were Angela Bassett, Anthony Anderson, (who previously hosted the Emmys), and actors from such popular TV shows as “The Pitt,” “Your Friends and Neighbors,” “Ted Lasso,” “Paradise,” and “Love on the Spectrum.”

“GBK Brand Bar is always looking for eco-friendly products for our luxury lounges,” says Gavin Keilly, CEO of the gifting company. “We have been supporting environmental causes long before it was mainstream. I remember helping raise funds and awareness for the charity Global Green at our Oscar Lounge in 2007. We have also helped raise awareness for One Tree Planted, Surfrider Foundation, and just recently, Americares. 

One company that Keilly was pleased to introduce was Alto Canto. The artisanal, additive-free tequila brand emphasizes low-intervention, environmentally friendly production. Its spirit is made with 100% USDA-certified organic agave, with no synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. 

The brand also plants cherry and apple trees near the region to support local biodiversity and encourage beneficial native yeast profiles for fermentation.

Thyseed baby bottles, which uses eco-friendly, recyclable materials and safe, non-toxic construction designed to reduce colic, just opened its first office in Los Angeles. 

“GBK’s Luxury Lounge was the perfect opportunity to share our product and be a part of the community,” says manager Lucy Rendler. “At Thyseed, sustainability begins with thoughtful design. Our durable glass bottles are made to be reused throughout a baby’s feeding journey, offering families an alternative to relying on disposable or short-lived products. By combining longevity, premium materials, and interchangeable components, we’re helping parents choose products designed to last — for their babies and for the world they’ll grow up in.”

Mexican-owned hotel brand Paradero Todos Santos has been an advocate for environmental conservation since it was founded in 2018.

“We were delighted to be among the caliber of top talent at the GBK Luxury Lounge and honored to introduce Paradero Todos Santos to the best actors, creators, and industry leaders who value meaningful experiences and thoughtful, eco-friendly travel. Our five-star hotel offers luxury that is sustainable, immersive, and deeply rooted in nature, local culture, wellness, design, and community. GBK provided a wonderful opportunity to share Paradero with such an inspiring community,” Santos says.

Daniel Olivares, international business developer at Panama Blue Water, was thrilled with the response to his company’s bottled water.

“Panama Blue is more than water — it is a piece of Panama that we have the privilege and responsibility to share with the world. Bottled in glass at the source, in one of the few facilities of its kind, our water travels from its natural spring to the bottle untouched by human hands, preserving the purity nature intended.” 

He continues, “Our commitment to ISO 14000 environmental standards and ISO 9000 quality standards reflects the same philosophy: to protect our source, respect our environment, and represent Panama with pride. Every bottle carries not only exceptional spring water, but the story and natural beauty of our country.”

A Gift Lounge with Monaesi Botanical Skincare

At Luxury Experience & Co.’s gift lounge, Rani Chirumamilla gifted Monaesi Skincare products.

“As a scientist and founder, I created Monaesi with the belief that skin care can be both gentle and high-performing,” she says. “We use advanced botanical ingredients designed to support the skin rather than overcorrect it, with a focus on long-term skin health and longevity.

Every product is intentionally formulated to be multifunctional, Chirumamilla adds. “This allows us to simplify skin care routines and reduce the number of products we put on our skin, while also helping to reduce packaging waste and energy consumption during manufacturing. For us, sustainability is not just about packaging — it begins with how we formulate and create our products. That same philosophy extends to the choices we make throughout the entire product-development process. We also ethically source our ingredients, working with partners who share our commitment to responsible practices and considering environmental impact when selecting our packaging.”