Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Leases Future minimum obligations under non-cancelable operating leases having an initial or remaining term in excess of one year as of December 31, 2011 are approximately $1 million annually over each of the next five years. Rental expense under operating leases was $4.9 million during 2011, $4.4 million during 2010 and $6.0 million during 2009. Other Commitments The Paper segment has minimum purchase agreements for wood pulp and other fibers during 2012 of approximately $21 million and $9 million, respectively. The Reconstituted Tobacco segment has minimum purchase agreements for wood pulp of approximately $10 million and for tobacco stems of $2 million in 2012. The Paper segment's PdM mill has a minimum annual commitment for calcium carbonate purchases, a raw material used in the manufacturing of some paper products, which totals approximately $2 million per year through 2014; PdM's future purchases at this mill are expected to be at levels that exceed such minimum levels under the contract. The Company enters into certain other immaterial contracts from time to time for the purchase of certain raw materials. The Company also enters into certain contracts for the purchase of equipment and related costs in connection with its ongoing capital projects. The Company has agreements with an energy cogeneration supplier in France whereby the supplier constructed and operates a cogeneration facility at certain mills and supplies steam that is used in the operation of these mills.The Company is committed to purchasing minimum annual amounts of steam generated by these facilities under the agreements through 2021. These minimum annual commitments total approximately $4 million. The Company's current and expected requirements for steam at these facilities are at levels that exceed the minimum levels under the contracts. The Paper segment's Brazilian mill, SWM-B, has an agreement for the transmission and distribution of energy that covers 100% of the mill's consumption of electrical energy valued at approximately $5 million annually through 2015. The French mills have contracts for natural gas to be distributed to and consumed at PdM, LTRI and St. Girons. The value of the natural gas and distribution to be provided under these contracts is estimated at approximately $33.0 million in 2012. The Company has certain other letters of credit, guarantees and surety bonds outstanding at December 31, 2011, which are not material either individually or in the aggregate. Litigation Imposto sobre Circulaçăo de Mercadorias e Serviços, or ICMS, a form of value-added tax in Brazil, was assessed to our Brazilian subsidiary, SWM-B, in December of 2000. SWM-B received two assessments from the tax authorities of the State of Rio de Janeiro for unpaid ICMS taxes from January 1995 through November 2000, collectively the Assessment. The Assessment concerned the accrual and use by SWM-B of ICMS tax credits generated from the production and sale of certain non-tobacco related grades of paper sold domestically that are immune from the tax to offset ICMS taxes otherwise owed on the sale of products that are not immune. One of the two assessments related in part to tax periods that predated our acquisition of Pirahy and is covered in part by an indemnification from the sellers of Pirahy, or Assessment 1 (case number 2001.001.115144-5). The second assessment pertains exclusively to periods that SWM-B owned the Pirahy mill, or Assessment 2 (case number 2001.001.064544-6). While SWM-B is primarily responsible for the full payment of the Assessment in the event of an ultimate unfavorable outcome, SWM-B is not aware of any difficulties that would be encountered in obtaining reimbursement of that portion of any payment resulting from Assessment 1 from the previous owner under the indemnification. SWM-B has contested the Assessment based on Article 150, VI of the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988, which grants immunity from ICMS taxes to papers used in the production of books, newspapers and periodicals, or immune papers, and the raw material inputs used to produce immune papers. Both assessments are presently on appeal in separate chambers of the Federal Supreme Court. Assessment 1 is before the court on a procedural question which, if decided favorably, would invalidate Assessment 1. If decided against SWM-B, Assessment 1 would then be sent back to the lower court for a decision on the merits. Assessment 2 is before the Federal Supreme Court on the merits and will be finally decided by the action of the chamber of the court hearing the matter, unless there is a prior decision by a chamber of the Federal Supreme Court on Assessment 2 that is in contradiction, in which case the conflict between the rulings of the different chambers will be decided by the Federal Supreme Court sitting as a whole. No docket entry has been made yet regarding argument on either assessment. SWM-B continues to vigorously contest the Assessment and believes that the Assessment will ultimately be resolved in its favor. Based on the foreign currency exchange rate at December 31, 2011, the Assessment totaled approximately $44 million, of which approximately $20 million is covered by the above-discussed indemnification. No liability has been recorded in our consolidated financial statements for the Assessment based on our evaluation of the Assessment under the facts and law as presently understood. French Employee Claims for Additional Severances In connection with the closure of the Malaucène mill, approximately 150 previously severed employees have filed claims for additional severances in the respective labor tribunal, alleging a lack of economic justification for closure of the mill or that the Company did not follow the precise legal requirements around identifying and offering other jobs within the SWM worldwide group. The Company intends to defend these claims vigorously; however, based on a preliminary evaluation of these claims, it was considered probable that we would incur additional severances in order to resolve this matter; therefore, in the year ended December 31, 2010, the results of discontinued operations included $2.8 million, of accrued pre-tax expenses associated with these claims. As a result of the liquidation and deconsolidation of the Malaucène legal entity in December 2011, this contingent liability is not reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011. Indemnification Matters In connection with its spin-off from Kimberly-Clark in 1995, the Company undertook to indemnify and hold Kimberly-Clark harmless from claims and liabilities related to the businesses transferred to it that were not identified as excluded liabilities in the related agreements. As of December 31, 2011, there are no claims pending under this indemnification that the Company deems to be material. General Matters The Company is involved in certain other legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that such litigation and claims will be resolved without a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Environmental Matters The Company's operations are subject to federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances relating to various environmental matters. The nature of the Company's operations exposes it to the risk of claims with respect to environmental matters, and there can be no assurance that material costs or liabilities will not be incurred in connection with such claims. While the Company has incurred in the past several years, and will continue to incur, capital and operating expenditures in order to comply with environmental laws and regulations, it believes that its future cost of compliance with environmental laws, regulations and ordinances, and its exposure to liability for environmental claims and its obligation to participate in the remediation and monitoring of certain hazardous waste disposal sites, will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. However, future events, such as changes in existing laws and regulations, or unknown contamination of sites owned, operated or used for waste disposal by the Company (including contamination caused by prior owners and operators of such sites or other waste generators) may give rise to additional costs which could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. The Company incurs spending necessary to meet legal requirements and otherwise relating to the protection of the environment at its facilities in the United States, France, Poland, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil and Canada. For these purposes, the Company incurred total capital expenditures of $1.0 million in 2011, and expects to incur approximately $1 million in 2012 and less than $1 million in 2013, of which no material amount is the result of environmental fines or settlements. The foregoing capital expenditures are not expected to reduce the Company's ability to invest in other appropriate and necessary capital projects and are not expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. Customer Matters Beginning in 2009 and through December 2010, Philip Morris–USA, a subsidiary of Altria Inc., included in its payments against invoices for banded papers a notice that it disputes the manner in which the Company has calculated costs for banded cigarette papers under a cost-plus based contract for this product. Such action is required under the applicable law to preserve Philip Morris-USA’s right to bring a claim to recover the alleged overpayments, which to date Philip Morris-USA has not done. Currently, the disputed portion of the payments made by Philip Morris-USA is approximately $24.4 million. The Company believes that it has properly calculated the amount it invoiced and has not recorded any provision for loss associated with this unasserted claim. The ultimate resolution of this dispute, if unfavorable to the Company, could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

Future minimum obligations under non-cancelable operating leases having an initial or remaining term in excess of one year as of December 31, 2011 are approximately $1 million annually over each of the next five years. Rental expense under operating leases was $4.9 million during 2011, $4.4 million during 2010 and $6.0 million during 2009.

Other Commitments

The Paper segment has minimum purchase agreements for wood pulp and other fibers during 2012 of approximately $21 million and $9 million, respectively. The Reconstituted Tobacco segment has minimum purchase agreements for wood pulp of approximately $10 million and for tobacco stems of $2 million in 2012. The Paper segment's PdM mill has a minimum annual commitment for calcium carbonate purchases, a raw material used in the manufacturing of some paper products, which totals approximately $2 million per year through 2014; PdM's future purchases at this mill are expected to be at levels that exceed such minimum levels under the contract.

The Company enters into certain other immaterial contracts from time to time for the purchase of certain raw materials. The Company also enters into certain contracts for the purchase of equipment and related costs in connection with its ongoing capital projects.

The Company has agreements with an energy cogeneration supplier in France whereby the supplier constructed and operates a cogeneration facility at certain mills and supplies steam that is used in the operation of these mills.The Company is committed to purchasing minimum annual amounts of steam generated by these facilities under the agreements through 2021. These minimum annual commitments total approximately $4 million. The Company's current and expected requirements for steam at these facilities are at levels that exceed the minimum levels under the contracts.

The Paper segment's Brazilian mill, SWM-B, has an agreement for the transmission and distribution of energy that covers 100% of the mill's consumption of electrical energy valued at approximately $5 million annually through 2015. The French mills have contracts for natural gas to be distributed to and consumed at PdM, LTRI and St. Girons. The value of the natural gas and distribution to be provided under these contracts is estimated at approximately $33.0 million in 2012.

The Company has certain other letters of credit, guarantees and surety bonds outstanding at December 31, 2011, which are not material either individually or in the aggregate.

Litigation

Imposto sobre Circulaçăo de Mercadorias e Serviços, or ICMS, a form of value-added tax in Brazil, was assessed to our Brazilian subsidiary, SWM-B, in December of 2000. SWM-B received two assessments from the tax authorities of the State of Rio de Janeiro for unpaid ICMS taxes from January 1995 through November 2000, collectively the Assessment.

The Assessment concerned the accrual and use by SWM-B of ICMS tax credits generated from the production and sale of certain non-tobacco related grades of paper sold domestically that are immune from the tax to offset ICMS taxes otherwise owed on the sale of products that are not immune. One of the two assessments related in part to tax periods that predated our acquisition of Pirahy and is covered in part by an indemnification from the sellers of Pirahy, or Assessment 1 (case number 2001.001.115144-5). The second assessment pertains exclusively to periods that SWM-B owned the Pirahy mill, or Assessment 2 (case number 2001.001.064544-6). While SWM-B is primarily responsible for the full payment of the Assessment in the event of an ultimate unfavorable outcome, SWM-B is not aware of any difficulties that would be encountered in obtaining reimbursement of that portion of any payment resulting from Assessment 1 from the previous owner under the indemnification.

SWM-B has contested the Assessment based on Article 150, VI of the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988, which grants immunity from ICMS taxes to papers used in the production of books, newspapers and periodicals, or immune papers, and the raw material inputs used to produce immune papers.

Both assessments are presently on appeal in separate chambers of the Federal Supreme Court. Assessment 1 is before the court on a procedural question which, if decided favorably, would invalidate Assessment 1. If decided against SWM-B, Assessment 1 would then be sent back to the lower court for a decision on the merits. Assessment 2 is before the Federal Supreme Court on the merits and will be finally decided by the action of the chamber of the court hearing the matter, unless there is a prior decision by a chamber of the Federal Supreme Court on Assessment 2 that is in contradiction, in which case the conflict between the rulings of the different chambers will be decided by the Federal Supreme Court sitting as a whole. No docket entry has been made yet regarding argument on either assessment. SWM-B continues to vigorously contest the Assessment and believes that the Assessment will ultimately be resolved in its favor. Based on the foreign currency exchange rate at December 31, 2011, the Assessment totaled approximately $44 million, of which approximately $20 million is covered by the above-discussed indemnification. No liability has been recorded in our consolidated financial statements for the Assessment based on our evaluation of the Assessment under the facts and law as presently understood.

French Employee Claims for Additional Severances

In connection with the closure of the Malaucène mill, approximately 150 previously severed employees have filed claims for additional severances in the respective labor tribunal, alleging a lack of economic justification for closure of the mill or that the Company did not follow the precise legal requirements around identifying and offering other jobs within the SWM worldwide group. The Company intends to defend these claims vigorously; however, based on a preliminary evaluation of these claims, it was considered probable that we would incur additional severances in order to resolve this matter; therefore, in the year ended December 31, 2010, the results of discontinued operations included $2.8 million, of accrued pre-tax expenses associated with these claims. As a result of the liquidation and deconsolidation of the Malaucène legal entity in December 2011, this contingent liability is not reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011.

Indemnification Matters

In connection with its spin-off from Kimberly-Clark in 1995, the Company undertook to indemnify and hold Kimberly-Clark harmless from claims and liabilities related to the businesses transferred to it that were not identified as excluded liabilities in the related agreements. As of December 31, 2011, there are no claims pending under this indemnification that the Company deems to be material.

General Matters

The Company is involved in certain other legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that such litigation and claims will be resolved without a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Environmental Matters

The Company's operations are subject to federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances relating to various environmental matters. The nature of the Company's operations exposes it to the risk of claims with respect to environmental matters, and there can be no assurance that material costs or liabilities will not be incurred in connection with such claims. While the Company has incurred in the past several years, and will continue to incur, capital and operating expenditures in order to comply with environmental laws and regulations, it believes that its future cost of compliance with environmental laws, regulations and ordinances, and its exposure to liability for environmental claims and its obligation to participate in the remediation and monitoring of certain hazardous waste disposal sites, will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. However, future events, such as changes in existing laws and regulations, or unknown contamination of sites owned, operated or used for waste disposal by the Company (including contamination caused by prior owners and operators of such sites or other waste generators) may give rise to additional costs which could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

The Company incurs spending necessary to meet legal requirements and otherwise relating to the protection of the environment at its facilities in the United States, France, Poland, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil and Canada. For these purposes, the Company incurred total capital expenditures of $1.0 million in 2011, and expects to incur approximately $1 million in 2012 and less than $1 million in 2013, of which no material amount is the result of environmental fines or settlements. The foregoing capital expenditures are not expected to reduce the Company's ability to invest in other appropriate and necessary capital projects and are not expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

Customer Matters

Beginning in 2009 and through December 2010, Philip Morris–USA, a subsidiary of Altria Inc., included in its payments against invoices for banded papers a notice that it disputes the manner in which the Company has calculated costs for banded cigarette papers under a cost-plus based contract for this product. Such action is required under the applicable law to preserve Philip Morris-USA’s right to bring a claim to recover the alleged overpayments, which to date Philip Morris-USA has not done. Currently, the disputed portion of the payments made by Philip Morris-USA is approximately $24.4 million. The Company believes that it has properly calculated the amount it invoiced and has not recorded any provision for loss associated with this unasserted claim. The ultimate resolution of this dispute, if unfavorable to the Company, could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.