'eco-awareness' originates from the combination of 'eco-', a prefix derived from 'ecology', and 'awareness', which comes from Old English 'gewær', meaning 'mindful'.

'eco-awareness' evolved from the growing global emphasis on environmental issues in the late 20th century, combining 'eco-' with 'awareness' to form a term that highlights consciousness about ecological matters.

Initially, 'awareness' meant 'mindful' or 'conscious', and with the addition of 'eco-', it evolved to specifically denote consciousness about environmental issues.