Were you meant to be saving the earth but your job has you staring at a screen all day long? What if we told you there’s a way to do both?

Introducing Ecosia, the “green” browser that makes use of the revenue generated by user searches to fund tree-planting projects around the world. Ecosia offers an alternative, eco-friendly browsing option which focuses on sustainability, biodiversity and climate action. 

Ecosia is a not-for-profit organization based in Berlin, Germany, running a search engine of the same name, which launched back in 2009. Last year, on April 22, Ecosia launched a fully-fledged browser, enabling users to contribute to the environment’s protection on a daily basis, without compromising their work or living conditions. 

The company’s eco-conscious approach extends to all of their operations, as it uses sustainable energy to power its servers and it invests its profits to plant trees, its goal being to absorb more carbon dioxide than it emits.

Ecosia delivers search results primarily through Microsoft Bing, enhanced by its own algorithms to support eco-friendly features., offering a familiar, reliable experience that doesn’t sacrifice the integrity and quality of your work.

According to an interview from Pieter van Midwoud, Ecosia’s chief tree-planting officer, the company earns €0.005 per search, meaning that it takes approximately 45 searches for a tree to be planted. Naturally, this figure varies based on various parameters regarding each search, but the environmental impact and value is undeniable.

Ecosia’s services also include the Ecosia Chat, an AI chatbot powered by OpenAI, which includes a special “green answers” feature, allowing users to efficiently look for eco-friendly solutions to their queries. 

Finally, there’s “Freetree”, a browser extension that makes online shopping a green affair, as it allows users to plant trees by making online purchases. Freetree redirects a portion of the affiliate commission from each purchase to reforestation efforts. 

At the moment of writing, according to the company’s official website, Ecosia has contributed to the planting of more than 235 million trees, and has dedicated north of €94 million to climate action projects and initiatives.

Said projects extend to every corner of the world, with the company supporting tree-planting activities in over 35 countries—always in collaboration with local organizations.

The company also accounts for biodiversity on its tree-planting projects. Instead of planting monocultures (fields of a single type crop, i.e. wheat or corn), Ecosia grows over 500 different types of native species in strategic locations where they are most needed.

Monocultures, while easier to nurture and grow in the short term, cause long-standing issues for the environment, such as reduced biodiversity, depleted soil nutrients, and increased pest and disease susceptibility to plants.

Ecosia perfectly embodies the spirit of “change yourself to change the world,” as it provides a bright example of how technology can offer convenience without throwing environmental responsibility out of the window. By altering everyday habits like browser searching and online shopping, it empowers users to contribute to the environment’s protection from the comfort of their home. In an increasingly digital and time-consuming world, Ecosia offers an opportunity to make a tangible difference without sacrificing what’s important to you.