Due to the hazardous nature of CH2Cl2, regulatory authorities have imposed restrictions to minimize or even stop its use. It has therefore become imperative to identify environmentally benign solvents to replace it. Here we report on a bio derived solvent, γ-valerolactone, for the incorporation of the first amino acid onto p-alkoxybenzyl alcohol resin in solid-phase peptide synthesis. Satisfactory loading values (by a spectrophotometric method) were achieved. Furthermore, racemization and dipeptide formation were also checked and found to be acceptable.