Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities from continuing operations:
Net (loss) earnings available to common stockholders from continuing operations	$ (1,610.1)	$ 138.5	$ 255.9
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) earnings to net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations:
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets	1,892.3
Impairment of equity method investment and related debt	23.5
Depreciation and amortization	304.0	186.7	154.7
Share-based incentive compensation expense	16.9	25.0	30.6
Profit sharing expense	19.0	18.7	18.0
Costs related to the acquisition and integration of Diversey	7.4	64.8
Amortization of senior debt related items and other	15.0	4.9	1.7
Loss on debt redemption	36.9		38.5
Provisions for bad debt	16.8	8.6	6.4
Provisions for inventory obsolescence	15.6	9.2	2.1
Deferred taxes, net	(318.4)	(60.9)	(3.3)
Excess tax benefit from share-based incentive compensation	(0.4)	(2.6)
Net gain on disposals of property and equipment and other	0.3	(6.3)	(0.8)
Net gains on sale other-than-temporary impairment of available-for-sale securities			(5.9)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of businesses acquired:
Changes in restricted cash		(6.3)
Receivables, net	(27.2)	(103.0)	(33.9)
Inventories	32.4	(12.9)	(19.4)
Other assets, net	10.2	45.1	16.3
Accounts payable	(83.8)	(28.2)	19.0
Other liabilities	54.0	90.9	3.2
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations	404.4	372.2	483.1
Cash flows from investing activities from continuing operations:
Capital expenditures for property and equipment	(124.4)	(123.5)	(87.6)
Acquisition of Diversey, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired		(1,983.7)
Investment in Diversey preferred stock		(262.9)
Other businesses acquired in purchase transactions, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired and equity investment	(2.6)	(12.0)	(24.1)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities			12.6
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment	7.8	10.4	4.2
Other investing activities	2.7	1.7	(2.0)
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations	(116.5)	(2,370.0)	(96.9)
Cash flows from financing activities from continuing operations:
Changes in restricted cash		262.9
Payments of long-term debt	(1,759.1)	(1,753.6)	(276.1)
Proceeds from long-term debt, net	1,306.5	3,662.2
Dividends paid on common stock	(100.9)	(87.4)	(79.7)
Acquisition of common stock for tax withholding obligations under our 2005 contingent stock plan	(9.6)	(12.2)
Net proceeds from (payments of) short-term borrowings	7.2	(7.0)	(4.4)
Payments of debt issuance costs	(29.6)	(51.1)
Repurchases of common stock			(9.8)
Excess tax benefit from share-based incentive compensation	0.4	2.6
Other financing activities			(3.0)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities from continuing operations	(585.1)	2,016.4	(373.0)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	11.1	2.0	(32.1)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations	(286.1)	20.6	(18.9)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities from discontinued operations	(7.4)	7.2
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from discontinued operations	313.7	(7.1)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities from discontinued operations	(44.2)	7.3
Net change in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations	262.1	7.4
Cash and cash equivalents:
Balance, beginning of period	703.6	675.6	694.5
Net change during the period	(24.0)	28.0	(18.9)
Balance, end of period	679.6	703.6	675.6
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest payments, net of amounts capitalized	323.0	134.8	128.7
Income tax payments	109.7	106.9	86.6
Non-cash items:
Non-cash items associated with the acquisition of Diversey: 31.7 million shares of Sealed Air common stock issued in connection with the Diversey acquisition		512.9
Fair value of Diversey preferred stock investment		262.9
Fair-value-based measure of the portion of the SARs attributed to pre-acquisition service		50.8
Other non-cash items:
Transfers of shares of our common stock from Treasury as part of our 2011 and 2009 profit-sharing plan contributions	18.7		7.2
Net unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities			$ (7.0)