New Canaan Student Named 2022 Environmental Champion: Aquarion

NEW CANAAN, CT — A New Canaan student was among five winners of the Aquarion Water Company's 2022 Environmental Champion Awards.

According to a news release, the company celebrated all five winners during a June 4 ceremony at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo.

Izzy Kaufman, a senior at New Canaan High School, was one of the listed winners.

According to the Aquarion, Kaufman's passion for environmental sustainability has brought tangible benefits to her community. She independently created a food scrap diversion plan for Greenology, a plant-based restaurant in New Canaan where she works.

Kaufman also collects food scraps from Greenology for Oak Forest Farm to feed its chickens. Her initiative helps support local agriculture while curbing the impacts of food waste, according to Aquarion.

She has also helped facilitate Greenology's transition from single-use plastics to reusable and compostable food packaging. By partnering with Planet New Canaan, a local environmental organization, Kaufman is helping other restaurants in town implement food scrap programs.

Annually, the Environmental Champion Awards recognize organizations and individuals in the large and small business, non-profit, adult, and student categories. Community members across Connecticut dedicate themselves to preserving the state’s environmental resources and pursuing solutions for sustainability, according to Aquarion.

"Preserving Connecticut's beautiful waterways, land, and wildlife is vital to our state's future," Donald Morrissey, president of Aquarion Water Company, said in a news release. "For over a decade, Aquarion has celebrated the efforts of environmental advocates across Connecticut and we're proud to congratulate this year's Environmental Champions for their exceptional accomplishments."

Further information can be found at www.aquarionwater.com.