Restructuring (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	$ 10,500,000	$ 9,256,000	$ 4,547,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Accelerated Depreciation	1,058,000	0	0
Accrual for employee-related costs	5,349,000	3,366,000	3,795,000
Restructuring charges paid	(8,559,000)	(9,076,000)
EMEA [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	6,704,000	7,531,000	2,834,000
Americas [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	3,616,000	1,603,000	1,713,000
APAC [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	180,000	122,000	0
Employee Related Costs [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	8,669,000	7,581,000
Accrual for employee-related costs	5,446,000	3,524,000	3,322,000
Restructuring charges paid	(6,747,000)	(7,379,000)
Other Restructuring Related Costs [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	1,831,000	1,675,000
Accrual for employee-related costs	400,000	381,000	403,000
Restructuring charges paid	(1,812,000)	(1,697,000)
Translation Effect on Restructuring Reserve [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	0	0
Accrual for employee-related costs	(497,000)	(539,000)	70,000
Restructuring charges paid	0	0
Americas Reorganization Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Number of Positions Eliminated	85
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	1,500,000
Accrual for employee-related costs	600,000
Brazil Consolidation Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Number of Positions Eliminated	55
Restructuring Related Cost Number Of Additional Positions	35
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	1,600,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Accelerated Depreciation	700,000
Accrual for employee-related costs	200,000
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs, expected costs	1,000,000
EMEA Reorganziation Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Number of Positions Eliminated	45
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	6,400,000
Accrual for employee-related costs	2,800,000
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs, expected costs	300,000
Bellevue, Ohio Facility Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	300,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Accelerated Depreciation	400,000
Accrual for employee-related costs	0
Masterbatch Reorganization Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs		2,300,000
Accrual for employee-related costs	1,300,000
EMEA Operations and Back-Office Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	300,000	4,700,000
Accrual for employee-related costs	200,000
Reduction in headcount	50
Americas Engineered Plastics Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs		1,600,000	1,100,000
Accrual for employee-related costs	100,000
Reduction in headcount	70
Italy Plan [Member]
Restructuring
Pretax employee-related restructuring costs	0	500,000	2,400,000
Accrual for employee-related costs	$ 0
Reduction in headcount		30