A levoglucosan-based flame retardant compound, a process for forming a flame retardant polymer, and an article of manufacture comprising a material that contains a levoglucosan-based flame retardant polymer are disclosed. The levoglucosan-based flame retardant compound has phosphorus-based flame retardant functional groups. The process for forming the flame retardant polymer includes providing a phosphorus-based flame retardant molecule, providing levoglucosan, chemically reacting the phosphorus-based flame retardant molecule and the levoglucosan derivative to form a levoglucosan-based flame retardant compound, and incorporating the levoglucosan-based flame retardant compound into a polymer to form the levoglucosan-based flame retardant polymer.