Restructuring and asset impairment - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) position	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) facility position	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) facility	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Future additional charges expected in connection with previous restructuring			$ 2,800
Number of facilities closed (facility) | facility				5
Elimination of positions due to realignment of cost structure (position)		223	223	120
Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges			$ 44,819	$ 40,071	$ 19,834
Gain (loss ) on sale of land and buildings			$ (746)	(8,635)	(2,039)
Termination fee				9,600
Foreign exchange remeasurement losses on net monetary assets					425
Number 9 Boiler
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Write off / impairment of assets	$ 17,822
Consumer Packaging
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of facilities closed (facility) | facility			3
Elimination of Forming Film Line
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges			$ 4,124
Other restructuring activity
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges			1,827	1,677
Closure of Packaging Services Center in Mexico
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Termination fee				$ 1,931
Asset Impairment, Disposal of Assets, Packaging Plant
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges		$ 4,054	10,099
Impairment of PrimaPak Fixed Assets and Intangible Assets
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges			$ 908
U.K. | Consumer Packaging
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of facilities closed (facility) | facility			1
Norway
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of facilities closed (facility) | facility				1
Norway | Consumer Packaging
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of facilities closed (facility) | facility			1
Estonia | Consumer Packaging
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of facilities closed (facility) | facility			1
Germany | Sale of Fixed Assets and Inventory
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges			$ 3,663
California | Closure of Packaging Plant and Sale of Vacated Buildings
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges			909
Malaysia | Sale of Fixed Assets and Inventory
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges			325
Connecticut
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of building			929
Release of environmental reserve			(675)
Write off / impairment of assets			431
Connecticut | Buildings
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gain (loss ) on sale of land and buildings			$ 1,173
Alabama
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of facilities closed (facility) | facility				1
Canada
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of facilities closed (facility) | facility				1
Indonesia
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of facilities closed (facility) | facility				1
Russia
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of facilities closed (facility) | facility				1
Atlanta, GA
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges				$ 4,516
Proceeds from sale of building				22,163
Net fixed assets				24,869
Inventory				$ 1,810
Venezuela
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other asset impairments					$ 338