Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Minimum retirement age for medical benefit plan coverage, years	58
Minimum service period for medical benefit plan coverage, years	10
Employee age after which minimum service period to be completed for medical benefit plan coverage, years	48
Minimum age at which the availability of medical coverage of retirees is curtailed	65
Number of retirees affected by plan amendment	50
Percentage determining the amount of unrecognized net gain or loss to be amortized	10.00%
Expected pension contributions in next fiscal year	$ 30,100,000
Expected pension plan expense in next fiscal year	38,200,000
Pension Plans
Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Prior service cost, expected to be realized	6,200,000
Prior service cost, expected to be realized, net of tax	3,800,000
Actuarial loss, expected to be realized	6,000,000
Actuarial loss, expected to be realized, net of tax	3,700,000
Company contributions	35,984,000	22,158,000	15,214,000
Net periodic benefit cost	36,025,000	25,930,000	25,131,000
Postretirement Plans
Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Prior service cost, expected to be realized	(400,000)
Prior service cost, expected to be realized, net of tax	(300,000)
Actuarial loss, expected to be realized	500,000
Actuarial loss, expected to be realized, net of tax	300,000
Company contributions	1,192,000	821,000	1,325,000
Net periodic benefit cost	3,130,000	2,821,000	2,455,000
Defined Contribution Pension
Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Company's contribution to defined contribution plans	10,800,000	10,400,000	9,600,000
Retirement contribution expenses	$ 4,300,000	$ 3,900,000	$ 3,100,000
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Company's common stock	2.1	2.6
Maximum
Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Pactiv pension plan participation period, years	P5Y
Maximum | Defined Contribution Pension
Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Company's contribution to pension plan, percentage	5.00%
Minimum | Defined Contribution Pension
Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans [Line Items]
Company's contribution to pension plan, percentage	3.00%