OceanHero Search Engine: Save the Oceans While You Browse

This post marks the first post in an occassional series called “Sustainable Sunday.” This series will contain posts on website sustainability, the environmental impacts of the web and technology, and what we can do to mitigate the impacts. Look for new posts in the future on how you can make difference in the environment or at least be more aware of it.

Imagine a world where every search you make actively helps to clean up the oceans. A world where your curiosity about the latest news, science, or even your quest for the perfect recipe could contribute to saving marine life. It is actually possible with every search.

The oceans are facing a plastics crisis. Every year, millions of tons of plastic enter our oceans from the land surface via rivers, streams, and general runoff from the land. This plastic then chokes marine life, poisons our food chain and disrupts deliate ecosystems. The sheer scale of the problem can feel overwhelming, leaving us feeling helpless and hopeless. But what if we told you there is a simple, everyday action you can take to be a part of the solution?

That solution is OceanHero, a search engine that is turning your online activity into a force for good. By simply using OceanHero for your daily searches, you directly fund ocean cleanup initiatives around the world. With every click, every query, you are transforming your digital activities into a positive impact on the planet.

Read on to dive into the details of OceanHero and explore its innovative approach to tackling plastic pollution and empowering individuals to make a difference.

OceanHero uses the power of online searches to fund plastic recovery efforts from the ocean to tune of a plastic bottle removed for every five searches (Notess 2020). By offering a seamless integration of ocean cleanup into our everyday browsing habits, OceanHero offers a unique and accessible way for everyone, even those far from the coast, to contribute to healthier oceans. The following describes how it works.

• The “Shell” System: When you use OceanHero, you accumulate “shells” – a virtual currency that reflects your contribution to ocean cleanup. You earn shells in various ways such as
  • Conducting Searches: Every search performed through OceanHero earns you a certain number of shells.
  • Opening new tabs: Something as simple as opening a new tab contributes to your shell count.
  • Engaging in Educational Content: Earn shells while you learn. OceanHero may offer quizzes or information about ocean conservation, rewarding you with shells for participation.
• Ad Revenue Funding: Like most search engines, OceanHero generates revenue by displaying ads alongside search results. This is similar to how Ecosia generates revenue to plant trees, however, OceanHero dedicates a significant portion of its revenue to fund ocean cleanup operations. This means that every time you click an ad, you are directly contributing to the cause. However, do not click ads excessively, as it can be counterproductive to the cause.
• Partnerships for Impact: OceanHero collaborates with established organizations specializing in plastic removal and recycling. One key partner is Plastic Bank, a social enterprise that tackles both plastic and poverty by establishing ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities. There partnerships ensure that the funds generated through OceanHero are effectively channeled toward tangible cleanup efforts.
• Transparency and Traceability: OceanHero emphasizes transparency by providing users with concrete information about their impact. You can track you shell accumulation and see how it translates into the number of plastic bottles recovered. Going further, OceanHero often provides certificates or reports that verify the amount of plastic collected through their initiatives, ensuring accountability and building trust with users.

OceanHero has had a tremendous impact on the ocean. Using the power of its users, which numbered up to 200,000/month by 2022 (Karidis 2022), the search engine has achieved significant milestones to fight plastic pollution. These achivements show that even small actions when combined can create a significant impact. Even the action of using OceanHero shows your commitment to the Oceans and the environment overall. Most users are between 18 and 30 years old (Karidis 2022), showing an interest in marine conservation among young adults. Below are some of the accomplishments to date:

• Results that can be Quantified: OceanHero showcases the tangible outcomes of its efforts. They regulary update their website with the total number of plastic recovered from the ocean, a number that continues to grow. At the time of this writing, they have removed 114,965,419 plastic bottles from the ocean, preventing them or their constituent parts from harming marine life and polluting the ocean with micro-plastic. By looking at the website you see the concrete real-world impact OceanHero is making.
• Transparency and Verification: To maintain trust and accountability, OceanHero provides verifiable information about its ocean cleanup operations. They publish monthly certificates that detail the amount of plastic collected, which is often accompanied by details about the specific locations, and the partners involved in the cleanup efforts. This commitment to transparency allows users to see the direct connection between their searches and the positive impact on the environment.
• User Impact Stories: Beyond the numbers, OceanHero shares inspired stories of how individual users contribute to the cause. These stories might highlight users who have accumulated a significant number of shells, showcasing their dedication to ocean conservation through their everyday browsing. By showcasing these individual contributions, OceanHero creates a sense of community and encourages others to join the movement.
• Expanding Their Reach and Impact: OceanHero’s impact extends beyond direct plastic removal. By raising awareness about the plastic pollution crisis through its platform and education initiatives, they inspire users to adopt more sustainable practices in their daily lives. This ripple effect of positive change amplifies the overall impact of OceanHero’s mission.

Looking at the achievements above, you can probably already figure out some of the benefits of using OceanHero to you. Using this search engine is making a choice to align your online activity with the values of participating in the solution to a global crisis. Below are some reasons why you might want to make the switch.

• There is a Direct Environmental Impact: The most significant benefit is the direct contribution you make to the cleanup of the oceans. With every search, you are actively funding the removal of plastic waste from the world’s oceans, protecting marine life and preserving delicate ecosystems that are already under stress from climate change. It is a tangible way to make a difference in the fight against plastic pollution, simply by doing what you do everyday, often without thinking about it.
• The Integration is Effortless: Using OceanHero is very easy. You can add the OceanHero extension to your browser with a single click, making it your default search engine. There is also a mobile app for convenient searching on the go. Alternatively, you can simply set the OceanHero homepage as your starting point for browsing. Whichever you do, there are no changes needed to your browsing habits.
• It is privacy-conscious: OceanHero understands the importance of data privacy. They have a clear and transparent privacy policy that outlines how they handle user data. They do not sell your data to third parties and prioritize user anonymity. By using this search engine you can browse with the confidence that your information is protected.
• The Search Engine is Comparable to Google: Like Ecosia, OceanHero utilizes Bing as its search engine. Bing has a similar search experience to Google and means you do not have to compromise on search functionality to make a positive environmental impact. In fact, if you already use DuckDuckGo, you are already using the same search engine already.
• Empowerment and Community: Using this search engine can help you feel good in knowing that your everyday actions are contributing to a greater cause. You also become part of a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about protecting our oceans. This sense of collective action can be inspiring and motivating.
• There is more to it, Beyond Search: OceanHero provides educational resources and information about ocean conservation on its website, allowing you to learn more about the issues and discover other ways to get involved. They also promote a more sustainable approach to internet usage and encourage users to be more mindful of their carbon footprint.

Like Ecosia and other environmentally-minded search engines such as Lilo, Givewater, and Ekoru, OceanHero represents a change in the way we interact with technology and our planet. It gives us pause to think about how the simplest of things can be used to make a positive impact and what the environmental consequences are if we do not take action. Some ways this search engine fits in the overall environmental effort include:

• Individual Actions and Collective Responsibility: Similar to Act Locally, Think Globally, your individual actions in concert with those of others can create a collective action to make significant change. Using this search engine is about joining a movement of individuals with a shared goal. It goes to show that we all can have a role to play in addressing global challenges.
• It provides Sustainable Solutions for the Digital Age: OceanHero highlights the growing need for sustainable solutions in the digital realm. The increasing use of the internet, coupled with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increased energy consumption and e-waste. This search engine shows that technology can be a force for good as well and is a technological example of sustainability in action.
• Causes Us to Rethink our Actions: The use of this search engine changes our relationship with technology, by challenging the idea that our online activities are inconsequential. Each search forces us to be mindful of our environmental impact.
• It is a Catalyst for Change: OceanHero inspires people to take action in a simple and non-complex way. Beyond this it sparks a conversation about our actions, inspires innovation, and encourages other companies and individuals to seek out sustainable solutions.

After reading this post, do you want to make a difference with your search activities? Joining the movement is simple and takes just a few clicks. Below are some of the ways to get started.

• Download the Browser Extension: This method was mentioned previously and involves downloading an extension into your current browser. To get it, go to the OceanHero website and click on the “Add to [your browser]” button. Once installed, the extension will automatically set OceanHero as your default search engine, making sure that every search contributes to the cleanup of ocean plastic.
• Get the Mobile App: Do you also want to make a difference on your smartphone? Download the mobile app for iOS or Android. This allows you to seamlessly continue your ocean-saving searches on the go.
• Set OceanHero as Your Homepage: If you are more manually motivated, simply navigate to the website and set it as your homepage. Once set, every time you open your browser, you will be greeted with the OceanHero search bar, reminding you of your cleaner ocean commitment.
• Spread the Word: Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to make a difference. Share the website or social media pages, and let them know how easy it is to make a difference with every search.
• Ways to Help the Environment Beyond OceanHero: Consider reducing your plastic consumption in order to reduce it at the source. Support oragnizations dedicated to marine protection, and participate in beach cleanups if you live near the coast. Every action, big or small, helps create a healthier planet for all of its inhabitants.

OceanHero is a beacon of hope and is a testament to the power of collective action with the most mundane of tasks. Below is a summary of the key takeaways from this post.

• Every Search Counts: Small actions can make a significant impact.
• Technology can be a force for good: Technology can drive positive environmental change.
• Individual responsibility matters: We all have a role to play in addressing global challenges.
• Hope for a cleaner future: OceanHero shows that we can overcome the plastic pollution crisis and create a healthier planet for generations to come.

• Karidis, Arlene. 2022. OceanHero Draws Internet Surfers to Tackle Ocean Plastic. Waste360, 23296976.
• Notess, Greg R. 2020. Search Engine Update. Online Searcher 44 (4): 8-9.
• Ojala, Marydee. 2023. Becomine More Eco-Friendly, One Search at a Time. Computers in Libraries 43 (6): 36-40.

This post was originally published on the Silphium Design website.