INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION Operating Profit by Industry Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit		$ 129		$ 627		$ 557		$ 1,124
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings		(29)		(14)		215		303
Interest expense, net		(137)		(129)		(279)		(252)
Noncontrolling interests/equity earnings adjustment (j)	[1]	(1)		0		(1)		0
Corporate items, net		4		25		15		46
Special items, net		(16)		0		(16)		(8)
Non-operating pension expense		34		487	[2]	65		531	[2]
Equity earnings (loss), net of taxes		20		45		68		108
Ilim Holding | Reportable Subsegments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Equity earnings (loss), net of taxes		21		46		71		108
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Interest expense, net		137	[3]	129		279	[3]	252
Industrial Packaging
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit		50	[4]	458	[5]	415	[4]	854	[5]
Global Cellulose Fibers
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit		7	[6]	(21)	[7]	(63)	[6]	(71)	[7]
Printing Papers
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit		86	[8]	117		186	[8]	252
Consumer Packaging
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit		$ (14)	[9]	$ 73		$ 19	[9]	$ 89	[10]

[1] Operating profits for business segments include each segment's percentage share of the profits of subsidiaries included in that segment that are less than wholly owned. The pre-tax noncontrolling interest and equity earnings for these subsidiaries are adjusted here to present consolidated earnings before income taxes and equity earnings.

[2] Includes a charge of $439 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016, for a settlement accounting charge associated with term-vested lump sum payments.

[3] Includes a gain of $4 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017, for interest income associated with an income tax refund claim.

[4] Includes a charge of $354 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017, related to the agreement to settle the Kleen Products anti-trust class action lawsuit, a gain of $6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, for a net bargain purchase gain associated with the June 2016 acquisition of Holmen Paper's newsprint mill in Madrid, Spain, and charges of $3 million and $4 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, for other items.

[5] Includes charges of $28 million and $65 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, for the impairment of the assets of our corrugated packaging business in Asia and costs associated with the sale of that business.

[6] Includes charges of $5 million and $9 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, for costs associated with the acquisition of the pulp business acquired in December 2016, a charge of $14 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, for the amortization of the inventory fair value step-up for that business and a charge of $1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, for other items.

[7] Includes a charge of $5 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016, for costs associated with the agreement to purchase the Weyerhaeuser pulp business.

[8] Includes a charge of $2 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017, for other items.

[9] Includes a charge of $9 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017, for the impairment of the assets of our Foodservice business in Asia.

[10] Includes a charge of $9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, for costs associated with the Riegelwood conversion to 100% pulp production.