Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantors (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) continuing operating activities	$ (65)	$ (52)
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(73)	(73)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(5)	6
Net cash proceeds from asset sales and other	11
Cash utilized in investing activities	(67)	(67)
Financing Activities:
Net distribution to OI Inc.	(30)	(31)
Additions to short term debt	(20)	(32)
Additions of long-term debt	119	5
Repayments of long-term debt	(62)	(10)
Net receipts for hedging activity	8	(12)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(18)
Cash provided by (utilized in) financing activities	15	(98)
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	16	7
Increase (decrease) in cash	(101)	(210)
Cash at beginning of period	400	640
Cash at end of period	299	430
Parent
Financing Activities:
Net distribution to OI Inc.	(30)	(31)
Change in intercompany transactions	30	31
Issuer
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) continuing operating activities	45	91
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(29)	(17)
Cash utilized in investing activities	(29)	(17)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	(71)	(74)
Additions of long-term debt	(55)
Repayments of long-term debt	110
Cash provided by (utilized in) financing activities	(16)	(74)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) continuing operating activities	42	55
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1)	(1)
Cash utilized in investing activities	(1)	(1)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	(42)	(106)
Cash provided by (utilized in) financing activities	(42)	(106)
Increase (decrease) in cash	(1)	(52)
Cash at beginning of period	21	230
Cash at end of period	20	178
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) continuing operating activities	(80)	(156)
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(43)	(55)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(5)	6
Net cash proceeds from asset sales and other	11
Cash utilized in investing activities	(37)	(49)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	11	107
Additions to short term debt	(20)	(32)
Additions of long-term debt	(7)	5
Repayments of long-term debt	(9)	(10)
Net receipts for hedging activity	8	(12)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(18)
Cash provided by (utilized in) financing activities	1	40
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	16	7
Increase (decrease) in cash	(100)	(158)
Cash at beginning of period	379	410
Cash at end of period	279	252
Eliminations
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) continuing operating activities	(72)	(42)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	72	42
Cash provided by (utilized in) financing activities	$ 72	$ 42