Ecosia, an eco-friendly search engine, has launched a new cross-platform browser with the aim of expanding its presence on the Internet and increasing its commitment to sustainability. Available for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, this browser is based on Chromium, Google’s open-source project, which makes it very similar to the Google Chrome browser.
The product director of Ecosia, Michael Metcalf, told TechCrunch that the main reason behind the development of this browser is that the company wanted to “go where our users are and start expanding the footprint of where they can be sustainable”. Ecosia allows customization of the homepage, offering users the ability to remove unwanted sections.
A standout feature of the new browser is the inclusion of an affiliate shopping program, which directs users to websites like Amazon, eBay, and Decathlon. Ecosia will allocate the revenue generated from these affiliations to tree planting and similar ecological projects, with the goal of generating 25 Wh of clean energy per user every day.
Although it promotes reduced consumption, Ecosia recognizes the tendency of users to make online purchases and sees in the affiliate program an opportunity to contribute to its cause. In addition, the company plans to improve the shopping interface, integrate an AI chatbot, and offer more customization options in the browser.
With 20 million users using its search engine, Ecosia will initially focus on this user base and on those consumers who show affinity with the environmental cause. Although they are satisfied with the user retention during the browser’s beta testing, the company has not shared data about its impact on search traffic.
Ecosia, which aggregates search results from multiple providers, has undergone structural changes in its search engine, including the transition from Bing to Google search in some markets. Additionally, the company has reached the milestone of planting over 200 million trees worldwide, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability.
