The production of carbonates from carbon dioxide and epoxides is an atom-economical, scalable and industrially relevant reaction, highlighting the use of carbon dioxide as a sustainable source of carbon. Following a brief introduction on cyclic carbonates and their applications, the use of ionic liquids (ILs) as organocatalysts for the cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides is analysed. Additionally, examples of one pot processes starting from alkenes or diols that may be used to produce carbonates are described (as these reactions are less developed the scope of the catalysts is not limited to IL catalysts). These alternatives are of special interest as simple alkenes and diols may be derived from biomass, leading to products derived entirely from renewable resources. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.