<p>The rapid growth of industrial activities led to critical increase in heavy metal contamination in water bodies. This review paper highlights the adsorption efficiency, effectiveness, and environmental sustainability of polymeric composites and nanocomposites to decontaminate wastewater by removing heavy metals (HMs). Recently developed materials such as carbon-based bio-composites, polymer-based hydrogel composites, carbon nanotube-based, graphene-based, metal oxides, and hybrid nanocomposites are critically analysed. Nanocomposites seem to outperform conventional polymeric composites due to their hands-on characteristics, including increased surface area, high efficiency and capacity to remove heavy metals at a molecular level. Review paper presents a novel analysis of polymeric and nanocomposite materials as innovative and eco-friendly adsorbents for HMs removal, focusing on their mechanisms, potential applications, and challenges.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>