'eco-' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'oikos', where 'oikos' meant 'house' or 'household'; 'centered' derives from 'center' which comes via Old French 'centre' and Latin 'centrum'.

'eco-centered' is a modern compound formed in the 20th century by combining the combining form 'eco-' (from 'ecology', itself from Greek 'oikos') with the adjective-forming suffix '-centered' (from 'center' < Old French 'centre' < Latin 'centrum').

Initially, 'oikos' meant 'house' or 'household'; over time the element 'eco-' shifted into scientific and popular English to refer to ecosystems and the environment, so 'eco-centered' now means centered on ecological or environmental concerns.