Business Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010		Oct. 31, 2009
Total assets by segments
Total assets	$ 4,207,282	$ 3,498,445	[1]	$ 2,823,929
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense:
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense	144,191	115,974		102,627
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member]
Total assets by segments
Total assets	2,738,182	2,058,165		1,783,821
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense:
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense	93,023	79,050		73,212
Flexible Products and Services [Member]
Total assets by segments
Total assets	383,507	353,715		15,296
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense:
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense	16,537	4,937		794
Paper Packaging [Member]
Total assets by segments
Total assets	420,370	435,555		402,787
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense:
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense	31,622	29,204		25,517
Land Management [Member]
Total assets by segments
Total assets	280,141	274,352		254,856
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense:
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense	3,009	2,783		3,104
Total Segment [Member]
Total assets by segments
Total assets	3,822,200	3,121,787		2,456,760
Corporate and Other [Member]
Total assets by segments
Total assets	$ 385,082	$ 376,658		$ 367,169

[1] The consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 2010 and the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity as of October 31, 2009 and 2010 have been restated to correct prior period errors. The corrections did not impact total assets, consolidated net income, or cash flows of the Company. Refer to Note 19 for additional discussion.