Asset Impairments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment
Asset impairment	$ 1,873,000	$ 3,392,000	$ 8,150,000
Italy Plan [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment
Asset impairment	1,400,000	2,700,000
Fair value of property, plant and equipment	1,300,000
Americas Engineered Plastics Plan [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment
Asset impairment		500,000	6,200,000
Fair value of property, plant and equipment		3,800,000
Oyonnax, France [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment
Asset impairment	400,000
Fair value of property, plant and equipment	700,000
Polybatch Color Center [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment
Asset impairment			1,900,000
Fair value of property, plant and equipment			$ 2,000,000