A　novel　polyvinyl　alcohol　(PVA)/halloysite　nanotubes　(HNTs)　composite　sponge　with　preferable　properties　was　fabricated　via　water　solution　mixing　and　casting　technique　with　a　fixed　PVA　ratio　and　the　various　contents　of　nano-fillers.　The　morphology　and　physical　properties　of　all　the　samples　have　been　studied　and　characterized　extensively.　The　results　showed　that　HNTs　were　uniformly　aligned　along　in　the　PVA　matrix　depending　on　good　interfacial　interactions　between　HNTs　and　PVA　matrix.　The　addition　of　HNTs　decreased　the　pore　sizes　and　porosity　of　the　sponges.　Mechanical　tests　indicated　that　the　incorporation　of　HNTs　contribute　to　the　reinforcement　in　mechanical　properties　of　composite　sponges　under　both　dry　and　moist　conditions.　In　addition,　the　composites　showed　better　performances　in　thermal　stability　and　water　absorption　capacity　than　pure　PVA　sponges.　Rhodamine　B　and　ibuprofen　were　employed　to　evaluate　the　control　release　ability.　The　results　illustrated　that　increasing　HNT　contents　can　enhance　the　sustained　release　ability　of　PVA　sponges.　©　2021　Society　of　Plastics　Engineers.