Earth Day Report 2025 – Pixels to Planet: Building a Sustainable Future for Blockchain Gaming

In the digital era, industries such as gaming play a significant role in resource consumption, contributing to high energy consumption and e-waste. With billions of active players worldwide, the gaming industry is evolving in its technologies and responsibilities toward sustainability.

Blockchain technology, often associated with high energy consumption, can and is being optimized to serve more eco-conscious purposes within gaming. This report explores the possibility of blockchain in gaming to create positive environmental impact that blockchain can have in gaming, aligning technological advancement with ecological stewardship.

Setting the Context

What is Blockchain in Gaming? Blockchain technology in gaming refers to decentralized technology that enables the creation, ownership, and trading of in-game assets without relying on centralized platforms. Leveraging NFTs (non-fungible tokens) for player-owned assets, cryptocurrencies generating innovative revenue streams for game developers, and smart contracts, facilitating secure, immutable, transparent, and user-driven ecosystems, blockchain technology has many positive attributes.

Environmental Concerns with Gaming Gaming infrastructure relies on energy-intensive servers and constant internet connectivity. In addition, frequent hardware upgrades and the production of physical media contribute significantly to electronic waste. Data centers often rely on non-renewable energy sources, which increases the gaming industry’s carbon footprint.

How Blockchain Is Driving Environmental Positivity in Gaming

Blockchain games have the potential to reduce their impact on the environment by taking positive action from the blockchain technology they use, to incentivizing players to foster sustainable behavior. For example, games that reward players for participating in eco-friendly actions, such as planting trees or recycling, or other relevant actions. These platforms often partner with environmental organizations to ensure real-world impact.

Blockchain Gaming can achieve this in several ways:

Leveraging innovative and efficient technologies such as decentralized and energy-efficient infrastructure. The environmental criticism of blockchain is often associated with energy-intensive Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanisms. However, many gaming-focused blockchains are transitioning to Proof of Stake (PoS), significantly reducing energy consumption. Layer-2 solutions and sidechains further enhance efficiency by handling transactions off the main blockchain.

Examples:
1. Polygon x The Sandbox:
“According to estimates, the biggest PoW blockchains can consume a yearly quota of anywhere between 35 and 140 TWh of electricity, with a continuous draw of between 3 and 15 GW of electricity.

By contrast, Polygon’s validators consume approximately 0.00079TWh of electricity yearly with an approximate continuous draw of 0.00009GW, orders of magnitude below the energy consumption by the major PoW blockchain networks.

To put Polygon’s eco-friendliness in perspective, Polygon’s yearly energy consumption is equivalent to:

2. YOM – Depin: A Potential Game Changer for Environmental Impact in Blockchain Gaming
Emerging as an alternative solution is the technology of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs). These systems offer a new approach to large-scale computing by leveraging the collective processing power of individual devices like personal computers, laptops, and workstations. Imagine a network where your computer (node), along with millions of others, can contribute processing power instead of relying on giant data centers. DePIN systems hold the potential to significantly reduce the environmental footprint associated with current, centralized approaches to data center infrastructure. While this technology is still evolving, it offers a promising path towards a cleaner, more sustainable digital future. (Source)

“YOM redefines our environmental stewardship by decentralizing game technology, transforming individual devices into a collective, energy-efficient network. This shift from massive data centers to distributed computing not only reduces our carbon footprint but also exemplifies a sustainable path forward for digital infrastructure.” – Jeff Outlaw, CXO | YOM

Offsetting Carbon Emissions by purchasing carbon credits

Token-Based Funding for Environmental Projects Blockchain enables transparent and traceable token economies that can directly support environmental causes. In gaming, this can translate to a portion of in-game spending being allocated to conservation, carbon offsetting, or reforestation projects, with transactions verified and tracked on the blockchain.

Case Study
GamesForest.Club – The Environmental Mission

At GamesForest.Club, we unite the games and creative industries around one powerful mission: to protect and restore forests around the globe. As a non-profit organization, we channel funding directly into high-impact forest conservation and reforestation projects. Since 2021, the members of the GamesForest.Club have planted over 92,000 trees, protected 1.52 million m² of forest, and helped sequester over 1,000 tons of CO₂. With 63 supporting companies, among them The Sandbox, Miniclip, Keengames, already part of our journey, we’re proving that when creativity meets climate action, real-world impact follows.

How Blockchain and the Digital World Support Our Mission
Gaming and blockchain communities are uniquely positioned to drive environmental change. GamesForest.Club offers a solution tailored for this digital-first world: companies that calculate their carbon footprint can offset it through certified projects we support and earn a personalized forest page in our interactive digital twin. This company forest becomes a living symbol of climate commitment, engaging players, employees, and stakeholders alike. Imagine carbon-neutral blockchain platforms or -games becoming leaders in carbon-neutral gaming. 

What We’ve Achieved & What Comes Next
In just three years, our collective efforts have restored forest landscapes, supported biodiversity, and empowered sustainable change through digital innovation. Moving forward, we aim to scale our impact—by partnering with more blockchain and gaming projects, integrating sustainability into game mechanics, and launching urban reforestation efforts like Tiny City Forests across Europe. We invite you to explore our latest Impact Report (2021–2024) and consider joining the movement. Whether you’re a developer, platform, publisher, or community leader—your game can help grow a forest.

Converting Gaming Activities into Real-World Impact

1: WeForest.org conserves and restores some of the world’s most overlooked forests in biodiversity hotspots—places with urgent needs and immense potential to restore climate, protect biodiversity, and sustain communities for an impact that lasts. Programs include:

• The Great Green Wall of Africa: An 8,000 km forest in the making on the front lines of climate change that combats desertification and food insecurity from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa.
• The Miombo Regeneration Belt: A biodiversity-rich forest sustaining 75% of Southern Africa’s population, with the highest deforestation rates in the region.
• Wildlife Corridors: A fragmented Atlantic Forest, home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity and a key water source threatened by agriculture-driven deforestation.
• Blue Carbon: A pioneering mangrove restoration project capable of storing up to four times more carbon than land forests while safeguarding coastlines.

How blockchain and the digital world (gaming) support this mission
Blockchain technology and the gaming ecosystem are contributing to protecting native forests and restoring endangered ecosystems by:

• Gamifying climate action: Blockchain-based games integrate environmental missions, where players’ in-game achievements translate into real-world tree planting. Initiatives like The Sandbox’s “Path to Glory” propose a journey into the heart of forest conservation, where players can visit the forests in Katanino in Zambia and Mount Mulanje in Malawi.
• Enabling crypto donations: Platforms like The Giving Block facilitate these donations, making it easier for gamers and crypto investors to contribute. Donating crypto to a registered non-profit is also one of the most tax-efficient ways for individuals to support a cause. 
• Creating NFTs and digital assets for conservation: Gaming projects and blockchain platforms generate NFTs where a portion of sales funds are redistributed to reforestation efforts. For example, WeForest has worked with blockchain projects to integrate donation mechanisms directly into digital asset transactions.

By joining forces, we have the power to go beyond and unlock new opportunities for collaboration to scale conservation efforts. Together, we can expand forest cover, capturing at least 41.2 billion tonnes of CO₂—equivalent to the world’s carbon emissions in 2024 (World Meteorological Organization). Our collective action can also help protect 46,300 species on the brink of extinction (IUCN Red List), preserving biodiversity for future generations. More than just storing carbon, forests play a vital role in climate stability by regulating Earth’s water cycle, generating vast airborne rivers—”flying rivers”—that form clouds and create rainfall thousands of kilometers away. By harnessing innovation, collaboration, and determination, we can drive real, systemic change for the planet.

We could collectively think about the following:

• In-game purchases for trees: Developers can introduce in-game items, skins, or perks where part of the revenue is allocated to reforestation. This turns microtransactions into an impactful climate action tool.
• Play-to-earn and eco-friendly tokenomics: Games utilizing play-to-earn models can dedicate a portion of their token circulation to forest restoration projects, ensuring long-term funding for environmental initiatives.
• Eco-friendly blockchain infrastructure: Gaming projects should prioritize low-energy blockchain solutions like Proof-of-Stake networks, reducing carbon footprints while supporting sustainable actions like tree planting.
• Educational campaigns in the Metaverse: Virtual worlds in gaming can host interactive experiences about forest conservation, educating players on the importance of climate action while encouraging donations and participation. And we’d love to accompany you on this journey!

Results and Future Action:
With the backing of the blockchain and gaming industries, we’ve already planted over 161 million trees, contributing 2.7% toward the UN Global Forest Goal. Our efforts have removed 12 million tons of CO₂—equivalent to taking nearly every car in London off the road. We’ve restored 83,000 hectares of forest, an area comparable to New York City or Singapore. Beyond environmental impact, we’ve also supported over 102,000 families and fostered 13,000 women-led enterprises, positively affecting half a million people.

One of the projects that gains the most attention within the ecosystem is the Desa’a Forest. Located within the Great Rift Valley and the Great Green Wall belt in Northern Ethiopia. Desa’a Forest harbors a multitude of species, including the endangered dragon tree (Dracaena ombet), and supports over half a million people in Tigray and Afar. In just 50 years, over 70% of its tree cover has disappeared, accelerating droughts, food insecurity, and land degradation. The project is designed to turn a cycle of loss into a cycle of renewal with targeted interventions in forest governance and stewardship, forest conservation and restoration, and forest-friendly livelihoods—including activities such as beekeeping, agroforestry, and distributing energy-efficient cookstoves, and solar lamps.

In just five years, we observe the project has resulted in increased above-ground carbon stock by 15%, woody plant species richness increased by 20% at the degraded buffer zones, and 54% of the beneficiaries who were living in poverty at the project’s inception in 2018, have risen above the international poverty line, earning a daily income of over 2.15 USD.
Will you join WeForest community’s restoration efforts? 

2: My Lovely Planet: The 1ST Mobile Game That Protects The Earth
The purpose of My Lovely Planet is to use the power of gaming and blockchain to create massive positive environmental impact on three of the main environmental issues we are facing:

• Carbon capture through reforestation and the protection of existing forests.
• To clean up the ocean by stopping plastic from flowing into it and clearing plastics already polluting the Earth’s oceans.
• Protection of biodiversity and animal welfare.

My Lovely Planet’s White Paper states that the project gives 15% of its revenue back to its NGO’s partner and has allocated 15,22% of our global initial supply to the Environmental treasury. (Source)

My Lovely Planet has set a highly ambitious objective of planting 1 billion trees over 10 years!

“We chose to plant trees to protect the environment because they are one of the most effective ways we could identify of preventing and mitigating Climate change, but also the loss of Biodiversity, drinkable water issues, and even help fighting social injustice in poor countries – Together with millions of players from our game, we will have a real positive impact on the future, as Edward the Fox would say!” – Clément Le Bras – Founder – My Lovely Planet

2023 was our first planting year, and from January 2023 to April 2024, we planted more than 140,000 trees in collaboration with well-known partners like Veritree in Kenya and Eden Reforestation in Madagascar, as well as local projects in France. 

Since May 2024, My Lovely Planet has been involved in a large agroforestry tree plantation project in Madagascar, specifically at “La Montagne d’Ambre” (known as Amber Mountain), in collaboration with the locally well-established NGO Graine de Vie. For our first year on this project, we plan to plant 200,000 trees in the Amber Mountain vicinity!

You can read more about MY Lovely Planet’s mission and roadmap here: https://www.mylovelyplanet.org/

Transparency and Tracking 

Smart contracts provide an immutable and transparent way to track environmental commitments. For example, players and developers can see exactly how much of their contributions go to green initiatives. Educational tools embedded in games can also gamify environmental awareness and promote sustainable habits.

Challenges and Considerations

While the shift toward green blockchain is promising, there are a number of challenges to tackle:

• Legacy Issues: The environmental impact of earlier blockchain technologies still casts a shadow.
• User Education: Gamers and developers must be informed about how to choose and support eco-friendly blockchain solutions.
• Scalability vs. Sustainability: Balancing game performance and user experience with low-energy usage continues to be a technical challenge that needs to be integrated into the underlying technology and the user journey.

Future Outlook

The future of blockchain gaming is increasingly green. With sustainability looming as a core concern for all businesses, many gaming companies and platforms are taking these concerns into account. Through research for this report, it is clear that numerous projects prioritize sustainability and have implemented it without compromising performance.

As blockchain becomes more efficient, gaming has the potential to lead by example in the tech industry’s environmental awareness and development. With more understanding of best practices, developers can be encouraged to build eco-friendly games, and players can support these initiatives through mindful gaming and advocacy.

Conclusion

When implemented responsibly, Blockchain technology offers numerous opportunities to align the gaming industry with the goals of ensuring environmental sustainability and positive impact. From reducing e-waste and energy consumption to funding environmental projects and educating players, blockchain has the potential to transform gaming into a force for good in the environment.

As we celebrate Earth Day, it is essential to recognize and support innovations that not only entertain but also help protect our planet.

Numerous studies, as well as games and metaverses such as The Sandbox, Polygon, YOM, My Lovely Planet, and the organizations working in the gaming space, such as GamesForest.Club and WeForest.org, as well as other games and related companies, including Illuvium, Legends of Elysium, to name but a few, have made a conscientious effort to make their games and products more sustainable. These projects are finding ways to incorporate storytelling, the user journey, and gamification to raise awareness of environmental impact topics, as well as embedding technology that creates real-world environmental effects, as seen in some of the case studies. The consideration of green energy and reducing human consumption permeates various industry sectors and geographical regions. We are starting to see many take the initiative within the blockchain industry to ensure sustainability in this innovative technology sector for gaming.

You can find out more about these initiatives and the organizations mentioned in this report in the references below.

References:

• https://polygon.technology/blog/sandbox-goes-environment-friendly-with-polygons-scaling-solution-for-their-decentralised-metaverse
• https://medium.com/sandbox-game/the-sandbox-gets-greener-reducing-nft-carbon-footprint-by-99-and-regrowing-trees-across-the-globe-edca3bdb0fa
• https://hackernoon.com/web3-gaming-can-boost-ecological-awareness-my-lovely-planet-founder-clement-le-bras
• https://naavik.co/deep-dives/environmental-impact-of-blockchain-games/
• https://sdlccorp.com/post/the-environmental-impact-of-illuviums-blockchain-technology/#:~:text=According%20to%20estimates%2C%20PoS%20reduces,is%20expected%20to%20decrease%20further.
• https://legendsofelysium.io/blog/the-environmental-impact-of-blockchain-gaming/?srsltid=AfmBOooehUMZOScgXWvwcoRBk5WXwfmG1xlCD8qi68GG_LK4et56Zdg-
• https://wodo.network/blogs/sustainability-in-gaming
• https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/blockchain-climate-action
• Earth Day Report 2024: Bridging Biodiversity and Blockchain Gaming for Earth Day: https://blockchaingamealliance.net/earth-day2024/
• Earth Day Report 2023: Blockchain, Gaming & Environment: Impact & Solutions: https://medium.com/blockchain-game-alliance/blockchain-gaming-environment-impact-solutions-e010c64d996b

YOM
Impact study: https://medium.com/@yom-official/depin-yom-revolutionizing-sustainability-in-the-internets-energy-intensive-infrastructure-48ffde6a3b70

GamesForest.Club
Environmental Impact Report: https://gamesforest.club/

WeForest Reference webpages
https://www.weforest.org/donate/donate-with-cryptocurrency
https://www.weforest.org/blockchain-with-purpose
https://thegivingblock.com/donate/weforest
https://www.sandbox.game/en/events/path-to-glory
https://sandboxgame.medium.com/announcing-path-to-glory-grow-trees-in-the-sandbox-and-help-save-a-real-forest-4cc714e1e674
https://www.weforest.org/donate

My Lovely Planet
https://www.mylovelyplanet.org/