Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs)-deliberately designed consortia with defined composition and functional traits-are emerging as powerful tools for restoring soil health. By combining complementary microbial metabolisms, SynComs can accelerate contaminant degradation, enhance nutrient cycling, and improve plant performance more reliably than single-strain inoculants. This article summarises how SynComs function, highlights key indicators for assessing their efficiency, and evaluates their potential for sustainable soil remediation.