EU Project Converts Industrial CO2 to Chemicals

Dubbendorf, Switzerland – July 9, 2026 – The EU-funded REACT project is developing a new electrochemical process designed to convert industrial CO2 emissions into valuable chemical products, with ethylene as a key target.

The project, in which Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) is a research partner, aims to provide a renewable alternative to conventional fossil-based production routes for essential platform chemicals. By turning CO2 from industrial waste streams into useful feedstock, REACT seeks to help close the carbon loop and support the transition toward climate-neutral chemical manufacturing.

Currently, over 95% of ethylene production relies on fossil-based steam cracking, a process responsible for around 260 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The REACT project aims to address this challenge by developing technology capable of transforming industrial emissions into valuable resources. The project specifically focuses on CO2 streams from hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, and chemical manufacturing.

Empa's role in the project focuses on investigating how impurities in industrial CO2 waste streams affect the performance and durability of the catalyst used in the electrolyser. "The goal of the REACT project is to create a working prototype electrolyser for the CO2-to-ethylene conversion, bringing it to a much higher technology readiness level," stated Corsin Battaglia, head of Empa's Materials for Energy Conversion laboratory.

The REACT project aims to bring CO2-to-ethylene conversion closer to practical implementation. In addition to advancing circular carbon value chains, REACT seeks to strengthen European industrial autonomy and support the shift toward climate-neutral chemical production. The consortium is also integrating advanced materials, monitoring systems, and digital twin technologies to improve efficiency, durability, and economic feasibility.