A flame retardant levulinic acid-based compound, a process for forming a levulinic acid-based flame retardant polymer, and an article of manufacture comprising a material that contains a flame retardant levulinic acid-based polymer are disclosed. The flame retardant levulinic acid-based compound has variable moieties, which include phenyl-substituted and/or R functionalized flame retardant groups. The process for forming the flame retardant polymer includes forming a phosphorus-based flame retardant molecule, forming a levulinic acid derivative, chemically reacting the phosphorus-based flame retardant molecule and the levulinic acid derivative to form a flame retardant levulinic acid-based compound, and incorporating the levulinic acid-based flame retardant compound into a polymer to form the flame retardant polymer.