ECOSIA – The Search Engine That Plants Trees
Did you know that there is an Internet search engine that turns your online searches into a global reforestation project? Ecosia does exactly that — it transforms your searches into tree seedlings planted around the world, helping our planet recover from environmental damage. Ecosia is an Internet search engine founded in 2009 in Berlin, created in response to growing concerns about climate change and massive deforestation. The founders wanted to create a tool that would generate funds for tree planting worldwide — without requiring users to change their habits. From that vision came a simple yet powerful idea: every Internet search can contribute to restoring forests.
The principle behind this search engine is surprisingly simple. Just like on any other search engine, users perform searches and see ads, similar to Google or Bing. In this case, however, the revenue from these ads is invested in tree-planting projects. Ecosia donates about 80% of its profits to reforestation initiatives. The company strongly values transparency and publishes monthly financial reports and project documentation so that users can clearly see where their money goes.
Ecosia uses Bing’s search algorithm, but everything else — investment strategy, privacy practices, and social mission — is entirely unique and environmentally sustainable. Unlike large tech corporations, Ecosia is deeply committed to user privacy: it does not sell user data and does not create personal advertising profiles. Searches are encrypted, and data is not stored long-term. This makes Ecosia a particularly appealing choice for people who want greater privacy online.
Ecosia is not just another digital tool — it is a meaningful global environmental initiative with visible results. To date, Ecosia has helped plant tens of millions of trees, with reforestation projects implemented in over 30 countries, including Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia, Burkina Faso, Peru, and many others.
The impact of Ecosia is not only ecological but also social and economic. The company works closely with local organizations, creating new jobs, supporting agriculture, and contributing to soil regeneration. Planting trees directly supports the restoration of ecosystems — improving water cycles, creating shade, rebuilding degraded land, and providing habitats for numerous animal species.
Ecosia also owns solar power plants that generate all the energy needed to run the platform — and even produce more clean, renewable energy than they consume. The surplus energy fed back into the grid helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This is why Ecosia is considered a “climate-positive” company, as it removes more CO₂ from the atmosphere than it produces.
Perhaps the most appealing part of this entire story is that users don’t have to do anything extraordinary to participate. All it takes is replacing your current search engine with Ecosia. This small change can lead to a huge positive impact on the world — more forests, more oxygen, more life — far greater than a single click might suggest. Ecosia is proof that technology can be a tool for positive change and that small habits, when multiplied, can create an enormous impact. Switch your Internet search engine to Ecosia today and help reforest our planet with every search you make.
