The challenges related to the emergence of the bioeconomy have raised some new opportunities to the petrochemical firms. Of the various options open to society to reduce the environmental burden, technology is widely considered as the most attractive. In this study we sought to analyze strategies of exploration and exploitation through firms with consolidated position in the petrochemical paradigm facing the emergence of a Discontinuous Technological Change (DTC), represented by the advent of the biotechnological route for the production of plastics. This paper sought to analyze the extent in which the strategies of these firms include the balance between strategies of exploitation and exploration. The analysis of exploration and exploitation strategies of the LCCs was based on the search for patent documents on Derwent World Patents Index® (DWPI) basis. Additionally, we analyzed the formation of technological alliances as a strategy. In general, these firms has a very balanced overall strategy, incorporating elements of capture income arising from investments in petrochemical paradigm but also turning to the incorporation of new search routines. Thus, for these companies, the advent of biotechnological route for the production of plastics is, in addition to a threat to their established positions, an opportunity for new sources of income. Regarding to the opportunities and challenges facing the chemical companies in developing countries, particularly Brazil, we believe that the advent of DTC, of biotechnology to produce plastics constitutes a window of opportunity for entry based on new technologies. However, should be emphasize the fact that the Brazilian initiatives are guided in the alcohol-chemical rout of production, which appears as an alternative path in the traditional paradigm.