The development of catalysts from renewable and sustainable resources is an important goal in organic synthesis. Here we demonstrate the use of urushiol derivatives as biomass-based catalysts for visible-light-induced decarboxylative coupling of amino acids with aldehydes. A series of 1,2-amino alcohols are accessed in a transition-metal-free fashion under eco-friendly and redox-neutral conditions. The application of an urushiol-derived film in visible-light photoredox catalysis is also disclosed.