In lieu of holiday gifts to customers this year, Pristine Environments, a provider of specialized facility maintenance solutions, committed to preserve 10 square meters of the Amazon rainforest on behalf of each of its customers.

The contribution will total approximately 40,000 square meters and is part of Pristine Environment’s commitment to save more than 10 million square meters (approximately 2,500 acres or about 3.5 times the size of Central Park in New York City) of rainforest.

“Too often, organizations gift cheap disposable items or other perishable goods during the holidays that can have a negative environmental impact,” said Brian Snow, CEO of Pristine Environments. “We wanted to do something different — something that underscores our commitment to sustainability and promotes positive change.”

To execute its rainforest preservation initiatives, Pristine Environments partnered with CUIPO, an organization created to preserve the ecosystem through the empowerment of individuals and institutions. Each time a business partners with Pristine for its specialized facility service solutions, Pristine will make a donation that stops deforestation and preserves the vital Amazon ecosystems in Panama and Brazil.

The decision to focus on rainforest preservation was determined in part to its ability to preserve carbon emissions — as much as 40 percent according to many leading studies. More than one acre of rainforest is lost every second — or approximately 31 million acres each year — due to deforestation and development.

The built environment contributes approximately 70 percent of CO2 emissions, so while organizations must identify strategies for reducing these emissions, preserving vital rainforest acreage will further reduce the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere and limit global warming.

“Many organizations that do business with Pristine Environments share our interests in sustainability and are continually looking for ways to make a positive impact,” said Snow. “Through this unique program, our customers will be able to save the rainforest just by doing business with us. It’s a win for everyone.”