NBCUniversal Productions Earn Awards for Sustainability On-Screen and Behind the Scenes at the 2024 EMA Awards

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 13, 2024 / NBCUniversal joined the 34th Annual EMA Awards, an annual celebration of sustainable production and environmental messaging in media, hosted by the Environmental Media Association. This year, NBCUniversal took home three awards for on-screen storylines:

  • Universal Pictures' Twisters for Feature Film

  • Universal Television's Hacks for the Paul Junger Witt Comedy Award

  • Bravo's Top Chef for Reality Series

Another NBCUniversal nominee recognized for environmental messaging included E!'s Omg Fashun for Reality Series. The evening also honored Quinta Brunson, currently in development with Universal on a new comedy feature film.

The EMA Documentary Award winner Bad River from 50 Eggs Films premiered on Peacock on November 1.

In his acceptance speech for Twisters, director Lee Isaac Chung spoke about capturing the beauty of nature while navigating the challenges of shooting in Oklahoma during tornado season. Chung highlighted the efforts of Universal's GreenerLight program and the sustainability team's initiatives behind the scenes, including reducing the use of fossil fuels on-set and minimizing food waste.

Chung also recognized the scientists who served as advisors for the film as the "real heroes" for educating the filmmakers about tornadoes and climate science.

All of us are here because we love this place, we love this earth, and we want to be caretakers of it.

In addition to the awards, NBCUniversal earned 17 Green Seals and 32 Gold Seals, the latter an all-time high for the company. The EMA Green Seal program recognizes progress in sustainable production practices, including fuel reduction, reuse and recycling, sustainable building materials, LED lighting, food donations and more. EMA Gold Seals are a higher tiered recognition and demonstrate exemplary sustainable production practices.

65% of all NBCU EMA Seal recipients earned a Gold Seal, a record for the company, in part thanks to the launch of the NBCU Sustainable Production Standards aimed at moving the needle on fuel emissions and materials conservation on set by requiring minimum metrics be achieved. All film and TV productions that implemented these standards in 2024 received an EMA Gold Seal.

Below is the complete list of the NBCUniversal 2024 EMA Green and Gold Seal recipients, including our first sports production to be recognized - the NBC Olympics broadcast of the Paris 2024 Games.

2024 EMA Green Seals

*EMA Gold Seal winners, a higher tiered recognition.