Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Net sales:
Total net sales	$ 1,131,494	$ 1,121,902	$ 1,050,766	$ 943,792	$ 993,942	$ 921,333	$ 836,580	$ 709,682	$ 4,247,954	$ 3,461,537	$ 2,792,217
Operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges, restructuring-related costs:
Total operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges, restructuringrelated inventory charges and acquisition-related costs									396,475	379,468	277,259
Restructuring charges:
Restructuring charges	19,100				6,200				30,496	26,746	66,590
Restructuring-related inventory charges:
Total restructuring-related inventory charges										131	10,772
Acquisition-related costs:
Acquisition related cost	5,200				7,100				24,385	27,176
Non-cash asset impairment charges:
Total non-cash intangible asset impairment charge									4,509
Operating profit:
Operating profit									337,085	325,415	199,897
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales									3,014,109	2,587,854	2,266,890
Operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges, restructuring-related costs:
Total operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges, restructuringrelated inventory charges and acquisition-related costs									261,800	291,066	210,908
Restructuring charges:
Restructuring charges									24,054	20,980	65,742
Restructuring-related inventory charges:
Total restructuring-related inventory charges										131	10,772
Acquisition-related costs:
Acquisition related cost									9,872	7,672
Non-cash asset impairment charges:
Total non-cash intangible asset impairment charge									1,547
Operating profit:
Operating profit									226,326	262,283	134,394
Flexible Products and Services [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales									537,993	233,119	43,975
Operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges, restructuring-related costs:
Total operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges, restructuringrelated inventory charges and acquisition-related costs									41,245	18,761	8,588
Restructuring charges:
Restructuring charges									6,899	624
Acquisition-related costs:
Acquisition related cost									14,513	19,504
Non-cash asset impairment charges:
Total non-cash intangible asset impairment charge									2,962
Operating profit:
Operating profit									16,872	(1,367)	8,588
Paper Packaging [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales									674,945	624,092	460,712
Operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges, restructuring-related costs:
Total operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges, restructuringrelated inventory charges and acquisition-related costs									74,385	60,640	35,526
Restructuring charges:
Restructuring charges									(451)	5,142	685
Operating profit:
Operating profit									74,836	55,498	34,841
Land Management [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales									20,907	16,472	20,640
Operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges, restructuring-related costs:
Total operating profit, before the impact of restructuring charges, restructuringrelated inventory charges and acquisition-related costs									19,045	9,001	22,237
Restructuring charges:
Restructuring charges									(6)		163
Operating profit:
Operating profit									$ 19,051	$ 9,001	$ 22,074