In this episode of Beyond Global Waves we talk about Ecosia, a search engine that allocates its advertising revenue to fund global tree-planting projects, positioning itself as an eco-friendly alternative to search engines like Google and Bing. Founded in 2009 by Christian Kroll, Ecosia has financed the planting of over 222 million trees in more than 35 countries and has approximately 20 million users as of November 2024. Ecosia publishes monthly financial reports and invests in renewable energy, with solar plants that produce more electricity than needed to power all searches, making it carbon-negative. The company also prioritises user privacy by encrypting searches and anonymising data within a week.

Google now powers Ecosia's search results, though it has previously used Microsoft's Bing. Ecosia has also integrated an AI-powered chatbot developed with OpenAI, offering users environmentally friendly information, and has partnered with the French search engine Qwant to build its web indexing capabilities through a joint venture called European Search Perspective (EUSP), expected to launch in France and Germany by the end of 2025. Ecosia's leadership includes a Chief Tree Officer who oversees the company's global reforestation projects, coordinating with over 60 reforestation partners. Despite its commitment to sustainability, Ecosia faces challenges regarding market share and competition with tech giants.