Sustainability Options
So, there's been a lot of discourse about AI and environmental impact, but in general, it is REALLY important that those of us who love technology and games consider the impact of our consumption.
I've decided to compile a list of sustainability options and I really hope some of you will take a look and consider using them, in the future.
FIRST, I want to make my opinion clear, though:
- You are not a monster if you prefer iPhone over a more sustainable android model
- You are not a monster if you prefer Google to more sustainable search engines
- You are not a monster if you use ChatGPT over no AI or a more sustainable AI
This post is NOT about condemning ANYONE for not doing ALL of this. This post is purely to encourage some of you to consider some of these options and if even one of you installs IdleForest or switches to Ecosia / Lilo (as an example), I would consider that a win.
So, let's start with IdleForest:
IdleForest (App based in Lisbon, Portugal)
This is an app. You can run it as a chrome extension or download it to you computer and run it in the background.
What it does: It uses any idle internet bandwith to fund tree planting efforts (verified). You download it, install it, log in, and let it run in the background. No muss, no fuss.
Potential issues: There are some concerns about them sharing data with the companies they sell the unused bandwidth to, so if that is a concern of yours, please look into it further.
Fairphone (Smartphone based in Amsterdam, Netherlands)
The world's most sustainable smartphone and for good reason. The newest phone (fairphone 6) has 51% fair and recycled materials and is 100% e-waste neutral (meaning for each phone produced, an equivalent amount of e-waste is recycled responsibly). Fairphone has gone out of its way to establish ethical supply lines, especially in DRC, where child labor is a big issue in mining precious minerals, such as cobalt. They're one of the founding members of the Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA), which works to improve worker safety, fair wages, community development and environmental protection.
What does Fairphone offer: Fairphone has modular design, which means any user is able to replace most parts of their own phone, without sending it in for repair. This also means the phone can last a lot longer, and software support is guaranteed for 5 years after release date.
Potential Issues: Fairphone is NOT cutting edge technology. They sacrifice peak performance for modularity and sustainability. While they strive for ethical production, there's still a long way to go, but they are the first smartphone brand to go as far as they have.
Ecosia (Search Engine / Browser based in Berlin, Germany)
Ecosia is a search engine, which uses the profits from ads to assist in replanting trees. In 2021 it used 80% of its profits to support tree-planting efforts. By now, it has been instrumental in the replanting of over 200 mio. trees, worldwide. It is a non-profit organization, which sticks to its goals for off-setting its carbon emissions and uses 100% renewable energy.
What does it offer: It is a search engine alternative for any device you might have and lets you track your environmental progress through your profile. It is by far one of the most sustainable search engines in the world (so far).
Potential Issues: Ecosia's privacy is not as strong as that of other search engines. This can be mitigated by using a privacy and security focused browser (librewolf has very strong protections). Also, Ecosia uses AI, one of Mistral's SLMs, specifically (more on Mistral, later).
OceanHero (Search Engine / Browser based in Düsseldorf, Germany)
Like Ecosia, OceanHero is a search engine with an environmental purpose. It uses funds from ad revenue to support recycling and clean-up efforts in the ocean, especially plastic. It is certified by UN and on average, 1 plastic bottle is cleaned for every 5 searches.
What does it offer: It's a search engine, with a very specific goal: the cleaning of the oceans and the preservation of marine wildlife.
Potential Issues: OceanHero is for-profit and struggles with transparency. Like Ecosia, privacy can be a concern, as well. OceanHero also uses AI, though it has not disclosed which one, but it works with Microsoft's Bing, for its searches.
Lilo (Search Engine / Browser Extension based in Rennes, Brittany, France)
Lilo is classed as a "Solidarity Search Engine" because it allows users to fund social and environmental projects through their searches. Users can choose which projects their searches fund and track their progress over time.
What does it offer: Strong privacy protection, user-chosen project funding and NO generative AI in its search results. 50% of its profits are donated to the causes it highlights.
Potential Issues: While it does emphasize privacy, it's still not as strong as some competitors. It also struggles with transparency, it works with Bing, which means there are some concerns about tracking and it is still VERY small, with only 700,000 users.
Mistral (AI based in Paris, France)
Mistral is open source and has a strong focus on ethical development. This includes a stringent adherence to European data and privacy laws (GDPR-compliant), research into smaller, more resource efficient models (such as SLMs) and transparency, revealing all their resource costs and allowing a large community to give feedback. One of the most important aspects of Mistral is its focus on SLMs (Small Language Models), which can deliver similar results as LLMs but at a fraction of the resource cost. Ecosia uses one of Mistrals SLMs for it's AI chat.
What it offers: Mistral focuses on real-world practical applications over speculative implementation of its models. It constantly strives to deliver better results with fewer resources and has a high transparency of all its documentation.
Potential Issues: It is still an AI and comes with all the caveats as most other AIs, even if it tries to mitigate some of the worst effects.
Longleaf Valley (Game by TreesPlease Games, based in Austin, Texas, US)
https://www.treespleasegames.com/longleaf-valley
Longleaf Valley is a simple merge game, where your score can be turned into trees being planted in the real world. To date, over 2 mio. trees have been planted due to this game.
What it offers: Typical merge gameplay with a real-world component for reforestation efforts.
Potential Issues: There's the usual lack of transparency and data protection concerns, as well as the fact that the app relies on microtransactions and uses dark patterns to engage users.
Jungle Heroes (Game by Little Chicken, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands)
https://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/jungleheroes/
Similar to Longleaf Valley, this game uses funds to support reforestation efforts.
What it offers: I haven't played this game but it seems to be about reforestation and resource management.
Potential issues: Same is Longleaf Valley
Finishing thoughts:
This list is not exhaustive, so feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments, and more importantly: DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. I may have missed something or gotten it wrong, so make sure whichever option you want to pursue aligns with your own morals.
And just to reiterate: I am NOT implying that people should do all of this, immediately. But I believe one of the most important parts of encouraging change is to supply people with options and that's what I'm trying to do with this post.
Posted Jun 14, 2026, 12:11 PM UTC