CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net sales	$ 5,322,670	$ 4,835,042	$ 3,514,586
Cost of products sold	4,412,474	3,941,850	2,814,412
Gross profit	910,196	893,192	700,174
Operating expenses:
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	483,365	459,088	370,926
Research and development	38,751	34,338	24,342
Facility consolidation and other costs	38,357
Other operating (income) expense, net	(17,656)	(1,064)	24,683
Operating income	367,379	400,830	280,223
Interest expense	76,809	73,488	42,052
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(1,653)	58	(2,139)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	292,223	327,284	240,310
Provision for income taxes	104,900	117,600	87,800
Income from continuing operations	187,323	209,684	152,510
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		1,782
Net income	187,323	211,466	152,510
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,242	6,355	5,289
Net income attributable to Bemis Company, Inc.	184,081	205,111	147,221
Amounts attributable to Bemis Company, Inc.:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	184,081	203,329	147,221
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		1,782
Net income attributable to Bemis Company, Inc.	$ 184,081	$ 205,111	$ 147,221
Basic earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.73	$ 1.83	$ 1.38
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.02
Net income attributable to Bemis Company, Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 1.73	$ 1.85	$ 1.38
Diluted earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.73	$ 1.83	$ 1.38
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.02
Net income attributable to Bemis Company, Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 1.73	$ 1.85	$ 1.38