Graphical abstract Highlights • A two-step synthesis approach is proposed to synthesize 2D rGO-ZnO (rGZn) nanocomposites. • Cotton smart fabrics have been prepared with the synthesized rGZn nanocomposites. • Synthesized nanocomposites show high photocatalytic and self-cleaning properties. • The amount of ZnO is varied in nanocomposites to achieved high photo-catalytic efficiency. • Methylene blue dye degradation of ∼91% is achieved only within 60 min. Abstract Recently, research activities are focused on development of 2D reduced graphene oxide (rGO) based semiconductor nanocomposite materials for boosting up its catalytic applications. In this work, a rarely reported green synthesis approach has been envisioned to synthesize in-situ 2D rGO-ZnO (rGZn) nanocomposites from Apple juice and zinc acetate. Also the composition of the samples has been optimized to achieve high photocatalytic and self-cleaning properties by the formation of reactive oxidation species. The samples are characterized for their microstructural, optical absorption and photoluminescence properties. It has been tested that rGZn nanocomposites are capable of removing a test dye, namely methylene blue (MB) from water and achieved the highest dye degradation efficiency of ∼91% within only 60 min under UV–vis light irradiation. A smart cotton fabric (CF) coated with rGZn has been prepared and demonstrated its photocatalytic self-cleaning property by degradation of MB, rhodamine B dyes and tea stains on it even under sunlight irradiation, which is scarcely available in the literature. Therefore, this work may open a new avenue of research for low cost and easy synthesis of rGO-semiconductor nanocomposites with high photocatalytic properties for industrial applications as well as for development of rGO based smart fabric for real-life applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]