The most used materials for cleaning up oil spills are synthetic sorbents, but they are not the best choice when considering economic and environmental factors. Instead, cellulosic materials that are inexpensive, abundant, non-toxic, biodegradable, and reusable could be a better alternative for sustainability and the circular economy. This study explored the source and impact of the oil spill, as well as different methods for increasing the oil absorption capacity of cellulose-based absorbents. Graphical Abstract