2026 Environmental Champions - Connecticut
On June 6, 2026, Aquarion Water Company honored five Connecticut winners of the 2026 Aquarion Environmental Champion Awards at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. The annual awards recognize individuals and organizations making a meaningful difference across business, nonprofit, adult, and student categories.
Large Business Category
Bigelow Tea Company – Fairfield, CT
Established in 1945, Bigelow Tea Company is committed to delivering flavorful, high-quality teas using sustainable practices. As a 100% family-owned company, the practice of environmental stewardship has been passed down through generations. Through recycling, composting, and material reuse programs, Bigelow Tea has maintained Zero-Waste-to-Landfill operations since 2012, and its commitment to renewable energy was recognized in 2020 when it became Green-e certified for carbon-footprint reduction. In 2019, 2022, and 2025, the company achieved and maintained its Certified B Corporation status with a high score of 103.1 - well above the minimum score of 80 required to gain certification.
Headquartered in Fairfield, CT, Bigelow Tea has remained an active participant in its community and demonstrated a deep commitment to the local environment by organizing clean-up events and hosting educational sessions on the importance of protecting pollinators, including bees. Outside of Connecticut, the company works to preserve the Charleston Tea Garden, which is the largest producer of tea grown 100% in the United States. Honoring and upholding sustainable, ecologically sound practices have been ingrained in Bigelow Tea Company's DNA since its founding over 80 years ago. Today, the company strives to carry on the legacy of energy conservation, waste reduction, and environmental preservation.
Non-Profit Category
Trumbull Nature & Arts Center – Trumbull, CT
For over 15 years, the Trumbull Nature & Arts Center (TNAC) has served as a leader in environmental education in its community. TNAC is located on more than 11 acres of land, which hosts 15 educational programs for students pre-K through 5th grade, and provides nature-rich experiences to people of all ages. The Center’s Environmental-STEM education has reached over 35,000 participants across Trumbull, Bridgeport, and the surrounding region. By providing grant-funded, no-cost field trips, TNAC has provided a foundation in environmental education to more than 13,000 Bridgeport elementary students.
The Center’s commitment to accessibility also extends to seniors with memory impairment, students with special needs, and high schoolers preparing to become environmental leaders. The organization’s wide range of programs is made possible through community partnerships with volunteers, local corporations, conservation organizations, and vocational support. TNAC is currently developing an interactive environmental educational display within its Nature & Arts Center, focused on the Pequonnock River watershed. The new addition will foster a deeper understanding of native plants, animals, and ecosystems, and showcase how human interactions impact the world around us. TNAC continues to inspire sustainable actions that benefit both the local community and the environment, while providing opportunities to strengthen human connections to nature through lifelong learning.
Midsize Business Category
Reboot Eco – Middletown, CT
Reboot Eco, which was founded in 2021, offers sustainable home essentials and a realistic, community-centered approach to low-waste living. By enabling customers to reuse their own containers, the business directly reduces single-use plastic waste, helping to protect waterways, soil health, and overall ecosystem integrity. Based in Middletown, CT, Reboot Eco has become a gathering point for community members looking to build simple, more sustainable habits. The products offered are carefully vetted to ensure they are effective, affordable, non-toxic, and responsibly sourced.
In addition to the sustainability of its business model, Reboot Eco plays an active role in community programming, including Repair Cafes, mending circles, and the Swap Studio, to extend its impact beyond waste reduction. These programs work to reduce the number of textiles and household items in landfills and help people build practical skills to implement environmental stewardship into their daily lives. Reboot Eco’s mission demonstrates how easily environmentally responsible habits can be integrated into routines without sacrificing convenience or affordability. The business’s impact is multiplied by strong community participation, a returning customer base, and a growing network of collaborators. Reboot Eco has built an enduring, ever-evolving framework for environmental impact rooted in accessibility, education, and care for people and the planet.
Adult Category
Maggie Favretti – Mystic, CT
Maggie Favretti, co-founder of the Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed, is a retired educator, author, and environmental advocate skilled at bringing people together. After growing up in Storrs, CT, and frequently visiting her grandfather in Mystic, her personal connection to the waterways and communities in the area runs deep. She assembled a co-leadership team uniting six communities across the watershed—the first of its kind—in a shared commitment to clean water, healthy ecosystems, and environmental resilience. The alliance brings together the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation, as well as environmental organizations, students, and community members, all centered on a shared mission of protecting the watershed.
Maggie has secured significant funding, including a $115,000 grant from the Long Island Sound Resilience Planning Support Program, to assess flooding, heat, and drought risks to the watershed. Her involvement in multiple Youth Climate Action Summits—including a 2026 summit that brought together 180 students, tribal experts, and community leaders—demonstrates her commitment to raising the next generation of environmental leaders. Maggie’s work is grounded in the idea that true environmental stewardship is a community effort, and only by working together can we make a difference.
Student Category
Tomás Gutiérrez – Brooklyn, CT
Tomás Gutiérrez, a Killingly High School student, set out to explore how municipal policy could better support nature-based solutions and integrate environmental protection into community decisions. Through his research, Tomás identified that a foundation of public understanding is required for meaningful policy change. He then responded by designing and launching his project, Biodiversity: Survival Through Education. In partnership with Killingly Middle School, he delivered biodiversity workshops to approximately 180 middle school students, clearly communicating complex ecological concepts. His efforts resulted in a 41–43% increase in students’ confidence in understanding biodiversity and taking action in their communities.
Tomás presented his findings to the Connecticut Land Conservation Council at its annual conference and earned personal recognition from the organization’s Executive Director for his professionalism and impact. He is the founder and president of the Killingly High School Environmental Club and actively contributes to youth organizations supporting environmental justice. Tomás demonstrates strong leadership by thinking at a systems level and positioning himself at the forefront of environmental stewardship and protection. He was named an Environmental Changemaker at the 2026 Connecticut Science Center showcase and ranked 2nd among peers statewide. Tomás was awarded the Klinck Scholarship to pursue a degree in Natural Resources, which he plans to accomplish at the University of Connecticut.
