It is known, as well as a rule, that plastic materials can not instictively and naturally degrade when released into the environment. Due to the persistence of plastics to degradation and also to propagation in industry, the problem of plastic pollution has progressed considerable in order to become a threat to global ecology, on land and sea. The present study presents a global mapping of actions brought in to reduce the use of plastic, plastic bags and foamed plastic products, followed by selected case studies from each region of the world, with more attention offered to the European Union countries and the strategies elaborated by them to provide a cleaner and safer environment.