Ecosia, a tree-planting search engine, has launched a new cross-platform browser to expand its online presence.
The new browser is available for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android and is built on top of Chromium. This means it shares many features with Chrome, making it easy for users to transition without disrupting their browsing habits. Additionally, users can customize the landing page and remove sections they do not like, such as top sites or climate impact information.
Image Credits: Ecosia
Michael Metcalf, Ecosia’s chief product officer, explained that the browser was developed to increase the company’s sustainable presence online.
“We are building a browser to reach our users where they are and expand the opportunities for them to be sustainable. While our main focus is on search, we aim to enhance the overall browsing experience for our users,” said Metcalf.
Ecosia has also introduced an affiliate shopping program with the browser launch, featuring links to shopping sites like Amazon, eBay, and Decathlon in the sponsored links section.
All revenue generated through affiliate programs will be used to plant trees and support other environmental projects. Ecosia has committed to producing 25Wh of clean energy per user daily through these initiatives.
Metcalf emphasized that despite promoting reduced consumption, the company acknowledges that shopping is prevalent, offering users a way to contribute positively through the affiliate program.
Future plans include enhancing the affiliate shopping interface, integrating an AI chatbot, and providing more customization options for the browser.
Ecosia aims to target its current user base of 20 million and attract casual environmentally-conscious users through targeted marketing. The company reported positive retention rates from early beta testing but lacks data on the impact on search volumes when users switch to the Ecosia browser.
Ecosia revamped its search engine structure last year, transitioning from using Bing exclusively to experimenting with Google search in select markets to improve user experience. In other regions, the company syndicates search results from Microsoft Bing, Startpage, and Info.com through System1.
Earlier this year, Ecosia celebrated a milestone of planting over 200 million trees across 95,000 locations worldwide.
