eco friendly
Eco friendly (adjective) means Designed or made so as to do as little harm to the natural environment as possible, for example by using less energy, avoiding toxic materials or being recyclable. Example: “They switched to eco friendly packaging made from compressed paper pulp.”
How to use eco friendly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMade in a way that does less damage to the environment.
Very common in marketing; sceptical readers may treat it as a greenwashing signal unless it is backed by specifics.
Use a hyphen when it sits directly before a noun: an eco-friendly detergent.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They switched to _____ packaging made from compressed paper pulp.
Etymology
A compound of the prefix 'eco-', shortened from 'ecology' (ultimately from Greek 'oikos', house), and 'friendly' in the sense 'not harmful to'.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for eco friendly
See all rhymes for eco friendly →Frequently asked questions
Is it 'eco friendly' or 'eco-friendly'?
The hyphenated 'eco-friendly' is the standard spelling in dictionaries and edited prose. The unhyphenated 'eco friendly' is very common online and in marketing, but hyphenate it before a noun to be safe.
What is the difference between eco-friendly and sustainable?
Eco-friendly describes a single product or practice that causes little environmental harm right now. Sustainable is a stronger claim about a whole system being able to continue indefinitely without depleting resources. A recyclable plastic bottle can be eco-friendly without the system that makes it being sustainable.
Is 'eco-friendly' a regulated term?
In most countries it is not a defined legal term, so anyone can use it. Advertising regulators do require such claims to be truthful and substantiated, which is why vague uses are often criticised as greenwashing.
What is the meaning of eco friendly?
"eco friendly" (adjective) means designed or made so as to do as little harm to the natural environment as possible, for example by using less energy, avoiding toxic materials or being recyclable.