Exit and disposal activities - Restructuring Reserve Activity (Details) - Transformational Cost Management Program $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2021 USD ($)
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 114
Costs	175
Payments	(74)
Other	(115)
Currency	(1)
Ending balance	101
Lease obligations and other real estate costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	17
Costs	89
Payments	(15)
Other	(72)
Currency	0
Ending balance	19
Asset Impairments
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0
Costs	40
Payments	0
Other	(40)
Currency	0
Ending balance	0
Employee severance and business transition costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	77
Costs	37
Payments	(51)
Other	(3)
Currency	(1)
Ending balance	59
Information technology transformation and other exit costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	20
Costs	9
Payments	(7)
Other	0
Currency	0
Ending balance	$ 23