Summary Of Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Summary Of Accounting Policies
Summary Of Accounting Policies	2. Summary of Accounting Policies *Basis of Consolidation* The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of PCA include all majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The Company has one joint venture that is accounted for under the equity method. *Use of Estimates* The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. *Revenue Recognition* The Company recognizes revenue as title to the products is transferred to customers. Shipping and handling billings to a customer are included in net sales. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales. In addition, the Company offers volume rebates to certain of its customers. The total cost of these programs is estimated and accrued as a reduction to net sales at the time of the respective sale. *Segment Information* PCA is engaged in one line of business: the integrated manufacture and sale of packaging materials, boxes and containers for industrial and consumer markets. No single customer accounts for more than 10% of total net sales. *Recent Accounting Pronouncements* In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-09, "Compensation — Retirement Benefits — Multiemployer Plans (Subtopic 715-80) —Disclosures about an Employer's Participation in a Multiemployer Plan." The amendments in this update require that employers provide additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures which will provide users with more detailed information about an employer's involvement in multiemployer pension plans and multiemployer other postretirement benefits plans. The provisions in this update are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company will comply with the additional disclosure requirements of ASU 2011-09 upon its adoption on December 31, 2011. The FASB issued ASU 2011-08, "Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) — Testing Goodwill for Impairment," which simplifies how entities test goodwill for impairment. The amendments in this update provide an entity the option to make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of goodwill impairment to determine whether it should calculate the fair value of a reporting unit. ASU 2011-08 is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will comply with the provisions of ASU 2011-08 upon its adoption on January 1, 2012. In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, "Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) — Presentation of Comprehensive Income." The amendments in this ASU require that all nonowner changes in stockholders' equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The provisions in this update should be applied retrospectively and are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will comply with the additional provisions of ASU 2011-05 upon its adoption on January 1, 2012. In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) — Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs." The amendments in this ASU clarify the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, which will improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. ASU 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application is not permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have any impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-28, "Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) — When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts." This ASU modifies Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For such reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. ASU 2010-28 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2011 did not have any impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) — Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements." This ASU requires new disclosures and clarifies existing disclosure requirements about fair value measurement as set forth in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 820. ASU 2010-06 amends ASC 820 to now require: (1) a reporting entity should disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers; and (2) in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, a reporting entity should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. In addition, ASU 2010-06 clarifies the requirements of existing disclosures. ASU 2010-06 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. As of January 1, 2011, the Company has adopted all disclosure provisions of this guidance. See Note 12 for additional information. *Reclassifications* Certain reclassifications were made to prior year amounts related to the alternative energy tax credits on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. The reclassification did not have any impact on the Company's net cash provided by operating activities, net cash used for investing activities or net cash used for financing activities in the prior period.

2. Summary of Accounting Policies

Basis of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of PCA include all majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The Company has one joint venture that is accounted for under the equity method.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue as title to the products is transferred to customers. Shipping and handling billings to a customer are included in net sales. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales. In addition, the Company offers volume rebates to certain of its customers. The total cost of these programs is estimated and accrued as a reduction to net sales at the time of the respective sale.

Segment Information

PCA is engaged in one line of business: the integrated manufacture and sale of packaging materials, boxes and containers for industrial and consumer markets. No single customer accounts for more than 10% of total net sales.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-09, "Compensation — Retirement Benefits — Multiemployer Plans (Subtopic 715-80) —Disclosures about an Employer's Participation in a Multiemployer Plan." The amendments in this update require that employers provide additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures which will provide users with more detailed information about an employer's involvement in multiemployer pension plans and multiemployer other postretirement benefits plans. The provisions in this update are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company will comply with the additional disclosure requirements of ASU 2011-09 upon its adoption on December 31, 2011.

The FASB issued ASU 2011-08, "Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) — Testing Goodwill for Impairment," which simplifies how entities test goodwill for impairment. The amendments in this update provide an entity the option to make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of goodwill impairment to determine whether it should calculate the fair value of a reporting unit. ASU 2011-08 is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will comply with the provisions of ASU 2011-08 upon its adoption on January 1, 2012.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, "Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) — Presentation of Comprehensive Income." The amendments in this ASU require that all nonowner changes in stockholders' equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The provisions in this update should be applied retrospectively and are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will comply with the additional provisions of ASU 2011-05 upon its adoption on January 1, 2012.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) — Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs." The amendments in this ASU clarify the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, which will improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. ASU 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application is not permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have any impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-28, "Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) — When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts." This ASU modifies Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For such reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. ASU 2010-28 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2011 did not have any impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) — Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements." This ASU requires new disclosures and clarifies existing disclosure requirements about fair value measurement as set forth in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 820. ASU 2010-06 amends ASC 820 to now require: (1) a reporting entity should disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers; and (2) in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, a reporting entity should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. In addition, ASU 2010-06 clarifies the requirements of existing disclosures. ASU 2010-06 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. As of January 1, 2011, the Company has adopted all disclosure provisions of this guidance. See Note 12 for additional information.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications were made to prior year amounts related to the alternative energy tax credits on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. The reclassification did not have any impact on the Company's net cash provided by operating activities, net cash used for investing activities or net cash used for financing activities in the prior period.