<p>As freshwater supplies become increasingly scarce globally, augmenting conventional water sources through the purification of alternative sources such as seawater and wastewater is essential. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) is a promising passive desalination technology harnessing renewable energy to produce fresh water. Nonetheless, its efficiency is currently limited by factors such as thermal management and solar absorber design. Recent reviews have focused on SDIE module designs, specifically on enhancing evaporation rates, designing new evaporator materials, and understanding the SDIE working principles. There has been a surge of studies utilizing recycled and waste materials as potential absorbers for SDIE, promoting sustainability and circularity. These materials are advantageous due to their availability, low cost as by-products of the linear economy, and ease of preparation. This review addresses the gap in the literature by discussing the potential of these materials as sustainable absorbers in SDIE, providing a comprehensive review of their types, performance, and challenges, and identifying future commercialization opportunities. The socio-economic benefits of using waste materials in this technology are also emphasized.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>