Operating Profit by Industry Segment (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other charges	$ 33	$ 21	$ 34	$ 49	$ (10)	$ 45	$ 88	$ 84
Gain on bargain purchase price adjustment						7
Other Divestitures And Impairments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of business, before tax	6						5
Temple Inland Merger Agreement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other charges				8				8
EMEA packaging restructuring
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other charges	16						16
Xpedx
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	9			18			42	35
Shorewood Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fixed asset impairment charge								129
Gain on restructuring				1
Restructuring charges								2
Etienne Mill, France
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Additional closure cost								2
Joint Venture In Turkey
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain on bargain purchase price adjustment								7
Franklin, Virginia Mill
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other charges				(1)				(22)
Inverurie Mill
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Asset impairment costs								8
Temple-Inland Inc.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Integration costs	58						136
Write-up of inventory			20				20
Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills Limited
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on bargain purchase price adjustment	1						0
Hueneme Mill | Other Divestitures And Impairments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fixed asset impairment charge		62					62
Containerboard Mills | Other Divestitures And Impairments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of business, before tax	(19)	(9)					(28)
Shorewood Divestiture
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of business, before tax			7
Shorewood Divestiture | Other Divestitures And Impairments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fixed asset impairment charge				82	129			82
Gain related to impairment charge passed to minority shareholder				8				8
Gain (loss) on sale of business, before tax		(6)					1
Shorewood Divestiture | Other Divestitures And Impairments | Others
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of business, before tax	$ 1	$ (1)