Disclosed are methods or processes of synthesizing building blocks and feedstocks for producing a broader range of polymers, including renewable polymers, from renewable resources such as CO2. In a process of manufacturing a renewable feedstock for polymer production, a CO2 derived lactone is prepared and processed to form the renewable feedstock. The process may include alkoxycarbonylation of the CO2 derived lactone to form a diester and hydrogenation of the diester.