Ecosia Launches New Browser to Expand Sustainability Efforts
Ecosia, the search engine renowned for its tree-planting initiatives funded by search ad profits, has introduced a new cross-platform browser to expand its online presence and further its sustainability goals. The browser, available on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, is built upon Google’s open-source Chromium project, ensuring a familiar user experience for those accustomed to Google Chrome.
Customizable User Experience
While the Ecosia browser closely resembles Chrome, the company believes this similarity will encourage more users to make the switch. The browser allows users to personalize their landing page and remove sections they don’t find useful, such as top sites or the climate impact widget.
Image Credits: Ecosia
Expanding Sustainability Efforts
Michael Metcalf, Ecosia’s chief product officer, emphasized the company’s desire to meet users where they are and expand the footprint of their sustainability efforts beyond search:
“The main reason we are building a browser is because we want to go where our users are and start to expand the footprint of where they can be sustainable. Right now, our main use case is around search, but we want to expand into parts of browsing experiences.”
Affiliate Shopping Program
Alongside the browser launch, Ecosia is introducing an affiliate shopping program, displaying links to sites like Amazon, eBay, and Decathlon under sponsored links. All revenue generated through this program will be invested in planting trees and supporting green projects. Ecosia has pledged to generate 25Wh of clean energy per user daily through these investments.
While promoting lower consumption, Ecosia recognizes the popularity of online shopping and aims to provide consumers with an opportunity to give back. Future plans include enhancing the affiliate shopping interface, integrating their AI chatbot, and offering more browser customization options.
Targeting Existing User Base and Green-Minded Consumers
Acknowledging the challenge of convincing users to switch browsers, Ecosia initially targets its existing 20 million search engine users. The company will also increase marketing efforts aimed at consumers who demonstrate an affinity for green causes. Although Ecosia was satisfied with the retention rate during early beta testing, they did not disclose data on the impact of the new browser on search traffic.
Search Engine Enhancements
In addition to the browser launch, Ecosia made structural changes to its search engine last year. After relying solely on Bing for years, the company began experimenting with Google Search in markets such as Canada, New Zealand, Brazil, and the Philippines. Ecosia utilizes System1, an ad tech company that syndicates search results from various providers, including Microsoft Bing, Startpage, and Info.com.
Milestone Achievement
Earlier this year, Ecosia celebrated a significant milestone, having planted more than 200 million trees across 95,000 locations worldwide, further cementing its commitment to environmental sustainability.
3 Comments
Finally, a browser that plants trees while you surf the web!
Looks like browsing the web just got more refreshing—and greener!
Ecosia’s stepping up, making green searching a breeze across all devices!