Segment and Geographic Information - Schedule of Financial and Other Information by Business Unit (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended							9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 390,865	$ 405,301	$ 406,413	$ 402,218	$ 412,852	$ 410,803	$ 417,469	$ 419,960	$ 1,604,797	$ 1,661,084	$ 1,802,415
Energy and related sales, net									6,141	5,664	7,927
Total revenues									1,610,938	1,666,748	1,810,342
Cost of products sold									1,392,335	1,463,783	1,575,188
Gross profit	56,867	$ 61,170	$ 42,723	$ 57,843	58,116	$ 32,833	$ 52,108	$ 59,908	218,603	202,965	235,154
SG&A									190,694	127,706	133,235
Losses (gains) on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net									216	(21,113)	(4,861)
Operating income									27,693	96,372	106,780
Non-operating expense									(16,887)	(17,796)	(19,397)
Income before income taxes									10,806	78,576	87,383
Supplementary Data
Plant, equipment and timberlands, net	775,898				698,864				775,898	698,864	697,608
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									65,826	63,236	70,555
Capital expenditures									160,200	99,900	66,000
Composite Fibers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									516,954	541,468	617,851
Total revenues									517,000	541,500	617,900
Cost of products sold									416,400	434,400	498,000
Gross profit									100,600	107,100	119,900
SG&A									46,300	45,700	51,600
Operating income									54,300	61,400	68,300
Income before income taxes									54,300	61,400	68,300
Supplementary Data
Plant, equipment and timberlands, net	235,100				258,100				235,100	258,100	277,800
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									27,800	26,200	29,700
Capital expenditures									18,800	26,800	23,900
Advanced Airlaid Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									244,262	244,589	281,673
Total revenues									244,300	244,600	281,700
Cost of products sold									209,500	215,700	247,600
Gross profit									34,800	28,900	34,100
SG&A									8,400	7,600	8,800
Operating income									26,400	21,300	25,300
Income before income taxes									26,400	21,300	25,300
Supplementary Data
Plant, equipment and timberlands, net	179,300				153,500				179,300	153,500	163,600
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									9,000	8,800	9,100
Capital expenditures									36,800	7,800	7,600
Specialty Papers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									843,582	875,026	902,891
Energy and related sales, net									6,100	5,700	7,900
Total revenues									849,700	880,700	910,800
Cost of products sold									752,600	804,500	821,800
Gross profit									97,100	76,200	89,000
SG&A									55,900	43,300	50,400
Operating income									41,200	32,900	38,600
Income before income taxes									41,200	32,900	38,600
Supplementary Data
Plant, equipment and timberlands, net	352,900				281,600				352,900	281,600	250,100
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									26,300	26,000	29,900
Capital expenditures									99,000	63,500	32,100
Other and Unallocated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of products sold									13,800	9,200	7,800
Gross profit									(13,800)	(9,200)	(7,800)
SG&A									80,100	31,000	22,400
Losses (gains) on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net									200	(21,100)	(4,900)
Operating income									(94,100)	(19,100)	(25,300)
Non-operating expense									(16,900)	(17,800)	(19,400)
Income before income taxes									(111,000)	(36,900)	(44,700)
Supplementary Data
Plant, equipment and timberlands, net	$ 8,600				$ 5,700				8,600	5,700	6,100
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									2,700	2,200	1,900
Capital expenditures									$ 5,600	$ 1,800	$ 2,400