Polymers include a wide range of materials, each with specific applications.

Examples are polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene for making food packaging film, detergent bottles, pipes, insulation and car parts.

Ethylene is a feedstock for all of these and is currently obtained from steam cracking of natural gas and petroleum. Electrochemical CO₂ conversion to ethylene provides the opportunity to produce ethylene from captured CO₂.