AbstractThis study aimed to enhance the properties of films produced from corn starch and gelatin recovered from chrome (III) tanned leather waste (CTLW) through the addition of transglutaminase enzyme (TGase) and phenolic extracts from Spirulina platensis (PESP). Mechanical, chemical, physical, and biological properties were analyzed and compared with control films elaborated in the same conditions but with commercial gelatin (COM). The possibility of applying the film as soil cover was analyzed through its degradation when exposed to the surface of a garden soil for a period of 60 days. The TGase caused a reduction of 50% in solubility in water, and 2% in the water vapor permeability (PWV), and PESP caused a reduction of 17% in solubility and 15% in PWV. The combined effect of TGase and PESP was a 60% reduction in solubility, 75% reduction in PWV, inhibition of contamination by Aspergillus niger, and reduction of film degradation on soil covering, evidenced by stability analysis using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. The combined effect of TGase with PESP led to an improvement in the characteristics of the film produced with CTLW gelatin, rendering its application possible due to a higher lifespan, contributing to environmental sustainability and diminishing leather waste disposal at landfills. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd