In　this　work,　a　bio-based　flame　retardant　(V-Cc-PP)　is　obtained　from　vanillin　and　phytic　acid　(PA)　to　address　epoxy　resin　(EP)’　flame　retardancy　by　replaced　the　intumescent　flame　retardants　(IFR)　used　in　industries.　It　indicated　that　V-Cc-PP　effectively　enhanced　compatibility　and　flame　retardancy　vis-à-vis　IFR,　yielding　self-extinguishing　capability.　The　inclusion　of　4.0　wt%　V-Cc-PP　improved　the　fire　resistance　of　EP　composites,　with　an　effective　34.2　%　declined　in　the　peak　heat　release　rate　(pHRR)　vis-à-vis　neat　EP.　The　pHRR　value　decreased　further　to　38.6　%　for　the　composite　of　EP/3.2wt%　V-Cc-PP　composite　containing　0.8wt%　Kaol.　The　char　residues　and　thermal　stability　of　the　EP/3.2wt%　V-Cc-PP/0.8wt%　Kaol　composite　were　superior　to　EP　and　its　other　composites,　whether　in　N2　or　air　atmosphere.　Crucially,　the　mechanism　of　flame　retardancy　for　the　EP　composite　containing　V-Cc-PP/Kaol　was　thoroughly　analyzed　via　TGA-FTIR,　FITR,　Raman,　SEM,　and　XPS　techniques.　This　work　provided　an　efficient　bio-based　flame　retardant　by　utilizing　vanillin　and　PA　in　EP　composite　for　important　appliances.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd