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Postretirement Benefits (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Components Of Postretirement Benefit Expense [Table Text Block]
Net periodic pension expense for qualified and nonqualified U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit plans comprised the following: 
  
 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

In millions
U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

Service cost
$
145

$
5

$
188

$
4

$
152

$
3

Interest cost
600

13

576

11

604

12

Expected return on plan assets
(762
)
(14
)
(738
)
(11
)
(753
)
(12
)
Actuarial loss / (gain)
374

—

485

1

307

—

Amortization of prior service cost
30

—

34

—

32

—

Curtailment gain
—

(4
)
—

—

—

—

Net periodic pension expense (a)
$
387

$
—

$
545

$
5

$
342

$
3



(a) Excludes $1 million in curtailments in 2014 related to the pension freeze remeasurement that were recorded in restructuring and other charges.

The decrease in 2014 pension expense reflects an increase in the discount rate from 4.10% in 2013 to 4.65% in 2014 and lower amortization of unrecognized actuarial losses.

ASSUMPTIONS

International Paper evaluates its actuarial assumptions annually as of December 31 (the measurement date) and considers changes in these long-term factors based upon market conditions and the requirements for employers’ accounting for pensions. These assumptions are used to calculate benefit obligations as of December 31 of the current year and pension expense to be recorded in the following year (i.e., the discount rate used to determine the benefit obligation as of December 31, 2014 was also the discount rate used to determine net pension expense for the 2015 year).
Postretirement Benefits [Member]  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Components Of Postretirement Benefit Expense [Table Text Block]
The components of postretirement benefit expense in 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows: 
In millions
 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

Service cost
$
1

$
1

$
2

$
2

$
3

$
—

Interest cost
14

6

14

5

20

1

Actuarial loss
5

1

7

—

10

—

Amortization of prior service credits
(13
)
(1
)
(24
)
—

(30
)
—

Curtailment gain
—

—

—

—

(7
)
—

Net postretirement (benefit) expense (a)
$
7

$
7

$
(1
)
$
7

$
(4
)
$
1


(a) Excludes $7 million of curtailment gains in 2013 related to the sale of Building Products that were recorded in Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses in the consolidated statement of operations.

Discount Rates Used To Determine Net Cost [Table Text Block]
The weighted average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows: 
 
 
2014

 
2013

 
U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

Discount rate
3.90
%
11.52
%
4.50
%
11.94
%
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year
7.00
%
11.38
%
7.00
%
11.43
%
Rate that the cost trend rate gradually declines to
5.00
%
6.11
%
5.00
%
6.12
%
Year that the rate reaches the rate it is assumed to remain
2022

2025

2017

2024
Changes In Postretirement Benefit Obligation, Plan Assets, Funded Status And Amounts Recognized In Balance Sheet And Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Table Text Block]
The plan is only funded in an amount equal to benefits paid. The following table presents the changes in benefit obligation and plan assets for 2014 and 2013: 
In millions
 
2014

 
2013

 
U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

Change in projected benefit obligation:
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligation, January 1
$
322

$
72

$
449

$
22

Service cost
1

1

2

2

Interest cost
14

6

14

5

Participants’ contributions
15

—

19

—

Actuarial (gain) loss
14

19

(80
)
12

Other
—

(26
)
—

38

Plan amendments
—

(7
)
—

—

Benefits paid
(62
)
(1
)
(82
)
(1
)
Less: Federal subsidy
2

—

2

—

Curtailment
—

—

(2
)
—

Currency Impact
—

(5
)
—

(6
)
Benefit obligation, December 31
$
306

$
59

$
322

$
72

Change in plan assets:
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets, January 1
$
—

$
—

$
—

$
—

Company contributions
47

1

63

1

Participants’ contributions
15

—

19

—

Benefits paid
(62
)
(1
)
(82
)
(1
)
Fair value of plan assets, December 31
$
—

$
—

$
—

$
—

Funded status, December 31
$
(306
)
$
(59
)
$
(322
)
$
(72
)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet under ASC 715:
 
 
 
 
Current liability
$
(33
)
$
(2
)
$
(39
)
$
(2
)
Non-current liability
(273
)
(57
)
(283
)
(70
)
 
$
(306
)
$
(59
)
$
(322
)
$
(72
)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income under ASC 715 (pre-tax):
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial loss (gain)
$
44

$
23

$
31

$
11

Prior service credit
(22
)
(5
)
(35
)
—

 
$
22

$
18

$
(4
)
$
11
Postretirement Benefit Adjustments Recognized In Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Table Text Block]
The components of the $26 million and $7 million increase in the amounts recognized in OCI during 2014 for U.S. and non-U.S. plans, respectively, consisted of: 
In millions
U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

Current year actuarial gain
$
18

$
14

Amortization of actuarial (loss) gain
(5
)
(1
)
Current year prior service credit
—

(7
)
Amortization of prior service credit
13

1

 
$
26

$
7
Estimated Total Future Postretirement Benefit Payments, Net Of Participant Contributions And Estimated Future Medicare Part D Subsidy Receipts [Table Text Block]
At December 31, 2014, estimated total future postretirement benefit payments, net of participant contributions and estimated future Medicare Part D subsidy receipts, were as follows: 
In millions
Benefit
Payments

Subsidy
Receipts

Benefit
Payments

 
U.S.
Plans

U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

2015
$
35

$
2

$
2

2016
31

2

2

2017
30

2

2

2018
28

2

3

2019
27

2

3

2020 – 2024
112

8

24
Net Cost [Member] | Postretirement Benefits [Member]  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Discount Rates Used To Determine Net Cost [Table Text Block]
The discount rates used to determine net U.S. and non-U.S. postretirement benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows: 
 
 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

U.S.
Plans

Non-
U.S.
Plans

Discount rate
4.50
%
11.94
%
3.70
%
8.43
%
4.40
%
7.73
%