Braskem went to extraordinary lengths to keep the polypropylene flowing during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, with lockdown orders shutting the US, workers volunteered to live at the company’s plants in Pennsylvania and West Virginia for 28 days to isolate themselves from the novel coronavirus. The employees received extra compensation and prepared their meals in on-site kitchens. They churned out polymers used for the nonwoven fibers that go into N95 masks and other protective gear. Braskem’s effort was perhaps the most extreme example of what US chemical makers did to keep their plants running, which they could under an advisory from the US Department of Homeland Security declaring chemical workers essential. Most other firms got by with social distancing and other preventative policies. The story was different for customers of those plants. The shutdowns and stay-at-home orders walloped markets like automotive and construction, forcing chemical plants