<p>Peels are currently cost-effective, eco-friendly precursors for developing sustainable adsorbents for water purification. Pharmaceutical, pesticides and emerging contaminants are currently prevalent pollutants generated from various industrial activities. This study presents the advancement in the development of peel as a sustainable and alternative adsorbent for the removal of selected organic pollutants, namely pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and emerging contaminants from water/wastewater. The absence of review in this area necessitates the assessment of strengths and weaknesses of the widely used peel-based adsorbents for the adsorptive removal of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other emerging contaminants. This study explores the occurrence and sources of the selected organic pollutants in water systems and examines various methods for preparing and modifying peel-based adsorbents to enhance their surface morphology and adsorption efficiency compared to conventional activated carbon. The performance of peel-based sorbents for the removal of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and emerging contaminants from water/wastewater was discussed. A comprehensive analysis of key operational parameters influencing performance and the mechanisms for removing these pollutants was presented. Conclusively, this study discusses the challenges and prospects of peel-based sorbents and emphasizes their corresponding roles in sustainable water/wastewater treatment solutions.</p>