Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail)					12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2005 USD ($)	May 23, 2005 USD ($) a	Mar. 28, 2005 USD ($) a Agreement	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2006 a	Jan. 31, 2006 a
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of purchase and sale agreements (agreement) | Agreement				2
Acres of timberland (acre) | a			35,000	56,000				5,700	15,300
Approximate value of sale agreement with Plum Creek Timberland			$ 51,000,000	$ 90,000,000		$ 2,900,000
Pretax gain on sale			42,100,000
Purchase notes payable			50,900,000
Maximum amount of guarantee on purchase notes			$ 52,300,000
Extended date					Nov. 05, 2020
Restricted bank financial instruments under Buyer SPE					$ 50,900,000	50,900,000
Interest income of Buyer SPE					2,400,000	2,400,000	$ 2,400,000
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests					(600,000)	4,700,000	46,600,000
Proceeds from sale of investment					300,000	0	6,000,000
Maximum
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Committed capital contribution					150,000,000
Third Party | Maximum
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Committed capital contribution					$ 150,000,000
Buyer SPE
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity					0.00%
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership percent sold of Earthminded Benelux, NV	51.00%
Proceeds from sale of investment	$ 300,000
Retained noncontrolling interest					$ 300,000
STA Timber
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal outstanding					43,300,000	43,300,000
Interest expense					2,200,000	2,200,000	2,200,000
Flexible Packaging JV
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests					$ 8,200,000	$ 14,200,000	$ 57,000,000
Trading Co.
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity					51.00%
Asset Co.
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity					49.00%
Global Textile
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity					49.00%
Monetization Notes | STA Timber
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Interest of senior notes		5.20%
Maturity date		Aug. 05, 2020
Debt instrument, principal outstanding		$ 43,300,000