With the escalating environmental impact of conventional polymeric filters, sustainable filtration technologies have emerged as a critical area of research. This study synthesizes recent advancements in woven and nonwoven filter media, emphasizing biopolymer integration, hybrid configurations, and circular manufacturing approaches. Woven media demonstrate superior mechanical durability and reusability, whereas nonwoven structures offer adjustable porosity and high particle capture efficiency. Integrating these two architectures yields synergistic performance benefits.

In contrast, petroleum-based synthetics such as neoprene and nylon, commonly used in filter textiles, contribute to microplastic release, challenging end-of-life disposal due to their non-biodegradability and elevated embodied energy. Environmentally responsible processing techniques, including melt-blowing, electrospinning, and plasma modification, in combination with innovative materials such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and cellulose-based fibers, offer viable routes to fully biodegradable and recyclable filters. This study also evaluates life-cycle sustainability, structure–property–performance relationships, and material innovations, and concludes by outlining research priorities for scalable, intelligent, and hybrid filters that advance global circular economy objectives.