Engineered Cellulose: A Multifunctional Platform for Next‐Generation Sustainable Environmental Technologies

ABSTRACT Engineered cellulose is redefining the frontier of sustainable materials in the face of escalating environmental challenges. As the world's most abundant biopolymer, cellulose offers an unmatched foundation for developing green technologies, yet its recent transformation through surface functionalization, hybridization, and nano‐engineering has unlocked far broader utility. This review critically surveys the evolution of cellulose‐based systems across a spectrum of urgent applications, including water purification, soil remediation, CO 2 capture, air filtration, biodegradable packaging, energy storage, and environmental sensing. Drawing from studies published between 2020 and 2025, we highlight innovative materials with well‐documented performance metrics, supported by eight comparative tables and schematic illustrations of major fabrication routes. In each domain, the mechanisms driving functionality, material‐specific limitations, and future directions are discussed. Particular attention is paid to challenges, such as moisture sensitivity, process scalability, and interfacial compatibility, paired with emerging solutions like bioinspired chemistry, multifunctional composites, and circular design principles. By bridging scientific insight with technological relevance, this review positions cellulose not only as a renewable alternative but as a versatile enabler of next‐generation environmental solutions. image