Summary of Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
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 two joint ventures that are 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. The cost of shipping and handling products billed to a customer are included in net sales. Shipping and product handling costs not billed to a customer are included in cost of sales. In addition, the Company offers volume rebates to certain of its customers. The cost of these rebates 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 July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-11, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) — Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.” This ASU requires that liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits offset deferred tax assets for net operating loss carryforwards, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax position is disallowed. In situations in which carryforwards cannot be used or the deferred tax asset is not intended to be used for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be recorded as a liability and should not offset deferred tax assets. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this ASU on its financial position and results of operations. Also in July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-10, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) — Inclusion of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (or Overnight Index Swap Rate) as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes.” The amendments in this ASU permit the Fed Funds Effective Swap rate to be used as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under Topic 815, in addition to interest rates on Treasury obligations of the U.S. government and the London Interbank Offered Rate (or LIBOR). The amendments also remove the restriction on using different benchmark rates for similar hedges. This ASU is effective prospectively for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013. The guidance in this ASU will impact the Company’s accounting for hedging relationships to the extent the Company has any such relationships. In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) — Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” The amendments in this ASU require an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of AOCI by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. The amendments in this ASU are effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has complied with the provisions of ASU 2013-02 upon its adoption on January 1, 2013. See Note 4 for additional information. Also in February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-04, “Liabilities (Topic 405) — Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation is Fixed at the Reporting Date.” This ASU requires an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, as the sum of (a) the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and (b) any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. This ASU also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013 and should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. To the extent the Company has any joint and several liability arrangements, this ASU will impact the Company’s accounting for such arrangements. In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) — Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment.” The amendments in this ASU allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. An entity would not be required to calculate the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2013 did not impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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 two joint ventures that are 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. The cost of shipping and handling products billed to a customer are included in net sales. Shipping and product handling costs not billed to a customer are included in cost of sales. In addition, the Company offers volume rebates to certain of its customers. The cost of these rebates 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 July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-11, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) — Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.” This ASU requires that liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits offset deferred tax assets for net operating loss carryforwards, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax position is disallowed. In situations in which carryforwards cannot be used or the deferred tax asset is not intended to be used for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be recorded as a liability and should not offset deferred tax assets. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this ASU on its financial position and results of operations.

Also in July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-10, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) — Inclusion of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (or Overnight Index Swap Rate) as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes.” The amendments in this ASU permit the Fed Funds Effective Swap rate to be used as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under Topic 815, in addition to interest rates on Treasury obligations of the U.S. government and the London Interbank Offered Rate (or LIBOR). The amendments also remove the restriction on using different benchmark rates for similar hedges. This ASU is effective prospectively for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013. The guidance in this ASU will impact the Company’s accounting for hedging relationships to the extent the Company has any such relationships.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) — Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” The amendments in this ASU require an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of AOCI by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. The amendments in this ASU are effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has complied with the provisions of ASU 2013-02 upon its adoption on January 1, 2013. See Note 4 for additional information.

Also in February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-04, “Liabilities (Topic 405) — Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation is Fixed at the Reporting Date.” This ASU requires an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, as the sum of (a) the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and (b) any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. This ASU also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013 and should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. To the extent the Company has any joint and several liability arrangements, this ASU will impact the Company’s accounting for such arrangements.

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) — Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment.” The amendments in this ASU allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. An entity would not be required to calculate the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2013 did not impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.