Recently updated on September 1st, 2022 at 10:00 am
Do you use Google to search for anything and everything? The majority of us do. But what if we could give back to the planet every time we used a search engine. That’s where Ecosia comes in. An eco search engine that plants a tree every time you search for something, this incredible platform has helped to plant more than 91 million trees planted to date.
What is an eco search engine?
Ecosia is an online search engine with a twist… it’s eco! The Berlin based company generously donates 80% of profits to tree-planting conservation projects worldwide. The search engine is powered by Bing, along with Ecosia’s own search algorithms. So far, the site has led to the planting of more than 91 million trees.
In April 2014, Ecosia became the the first German company to become a B Corporation thanks to its social business model. By June 2019, the company had planted 60 million trees. That same year, Ecosia also built its own solar energy plant to power every search.
Ecosia’s mission is to plant 1 billion trees by the year 2020. With more than 7 million active users and counting, they’re well on their way.
Who is the person behind Ecosia?
Ecosia was founded by Christian Kroll, Ecosia’s CEO, in December 2009. The brainwave came about after a trip around the world helped him understand the problems of deforestation. Ecosia has won several awards for its clever concept and speedy growth in Europe and beyond.
Is Ecosia better for the environment than Google?
Each search actually removes 1kg of CO2 from the air, making Ecosia a carbon-negative search engine. It costs roughly 0.25€ to plant a tree, which means that Ecosia can plant one tree every 50 searches. That means, by planting trees the company is offsetting its energy use unlike Google. What’s more, Ecosia’s servers run 100% on solar energy, whereas Google’s do not.
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Where does Ecosia plant trees?
Ecosia supports over 20 tree-planting projects in 15 different countries; Peru, Brazil, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Haiti, Colombia, Spain, Morocco, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Indonesia. Ecosia focuses on areas that desperately need healthy forests to sustain their endangered ecosystems and livelihood. The company looks at the ecological and financial needs of a region in determining where to plant. If an area meets the organisation’s requirements, they go on the to-plant list. The company then works with local partners who are able to monitor the trees on the ground.
How many trees has Ecosia actually planted?
Currently, the Ecosia community has planted more than 91 million trees. The eco search engine has a ticker under the search bar with the number of trees planted.
Can planting trees save the planet?
Planting trees provides clean air, water security and a cooler climate. This is because trees absorb CO2, a greenhouse gas, and release oxygen. Planting trees slows down the planet’s warming, helping to create a healthier planet for all of us.
Would you use Ecosia? Have you used it before? Let us know in the comments below.