エコ

えこ
noun
eco; eco-friendly; ecological
1. eco-friendly; ecological; environmentally friendly
Related to environmental conservation or products that are good for the environment.
エコな生活(せいかつ)(こころ)がけている。
I try to live an eco-friendly lifestyle.
エコバッグを持参(じさん)する。
I bring my own eco bag.
エコカーに()()えた。
I switched to an eco-friendly car.

エコ is short for エコロジー (ecology). It functions as a prefix meaning "eco-friendly" and is extremely common in modern Japanese marketing and daily life.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • エコバッグ: reusable shopping bag (very common since Japan's plastic bag charge in 2020)
  • エコカー: eco-friendly car (hybrid/electric)
  • エコ活動(かつどう): eco activities, green initiatives
  • エコ商品(しょうひん): eco-friendly products
  • エコポイント: eco points (government incentive program)

GRAMMAR:
Can be used as a na-adjective modifier: エコな生活(せいかつ) (eco-friendly lifestyle), エコな選択(せんたく) (eco-friendly choice).

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • 環境(かんきょう)にやさしい: environmentally friendly (more formal)
  • グリーン: green (as in green energy, green initiatives)
  • サステナブル: sustainable