Debt Narrative - Senior Secured Notes and Revolving Credit Facility - Food Packaging (Details) (Food Packaging Segment [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] Viskase Notes Indenture [Member]	May 31, 2010 Secured Debt [Member] Viskase Notes Indenture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Secured Debt [Member] Viskase Senior Secured Notes due 2018 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] Letter of Credit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Unsecured Debt [Member] Line of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Line of Credit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Debt repurchase date range, Prior to January 15, 2014 [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Viskase Notes Indenture [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount issued, long-term debt		$ 40,000,000	$ 175,000,000
Interest rate, long-term debt			9.875%
Redemption percentage of aggregate principal amount authorized to be redeemed at higher percenatge of principal amount	35.00%
Redemption percentage of principal amount							109.875%
Percentage of aggregate principal amount required to remain outstanding if debt redeemed at higher percenatge of principal amount	65.00%
Line of credit facility					6,000,000	8,000,000
Line of credit facility, outstanding borowings					2,000,000	0
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount				$ 1,000,000