Sonoco Products (SON) 10-Q 30 Apr 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014	Apr. 17, 2014
Document Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Mar-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'
Trading Symbol	'SON	'
Entity Registrant Name	'SONOCO PRODUCTS CO	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000091767	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	102,052,566

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current Assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$191,407	$217,567	[1]
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances	683,859	614,053	[1]
Other receivables	33,857	38,995	[1]
Inventories:	'	'
Finished and in process	162,846	158,256	[1]
Materials and supplies	250,919	252,531	[1]
Prepaid expenses	41,820	57,666	[1]
Deferred income taxes	40,239	39,406	[1]
Total Current Assets	1,404,947	1,378,474	[1]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,016,751	1,021,920	[1]
Goodwill	1,095,214	1,099,207	[1]
Other Intangible Assets, Net	236,544	243,920	[1]
Long-term Deferred Income Taxes	56,364	67,364	[1]
Other Assets	170,499	168,406	[1]
Total Assets	3,980,319	3,979,291	[1]
Current Liabilities	'	'
Payable to suppliers	506,069	491,809	[1]
Accrued expenses and other	327,995	331,566	[1]
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt	38,906	35,201	[1]
Accrued taxes	17,211	8,649	[1]
Total Current Liabilities	890,181	867,225	[1]
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	946,512	946,257	[1]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits	233,330	263,718	[1]
Deferred Income Taxes	121,854	128,006	[1]
Other Liabilities	47,270	48,760	[1]
Commitments and Contingencies	'	'	[1]
Sonoco Shareholders' Equity	'	'
Common stock, no par value, Authorized 300,000 shares 102,161 and 102,147 shares issued and outstanding at March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	7,175	7,175	[1]
Capital in excess of stated value	455,764	457,190	[1]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-361,469	-358,520	[1]
Retained earnings	1,625,310	1,604,892	[1]
Total Sonoco Shareholders’ Equity	1,726,780	1,710,737	[1]
Noncontrolling Interests	14,392	14,588	[1]
Total Equity	1,741,172	1,725,325	[1]
Total Liabilities and Equity	$3,980,319	$3,979,291	[1]
[1]	The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Common stock, number of shares authorized	300,000,000	300,000,000
Common stock, number of shares issued	102,161,000	102,147,000
Common stock, number of shares outstanding	102,161,000	102,147,000

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'
Net sales	$1,185,626	$1,179,213
Cost of sales	973,323	973,497
Gross profit	212,303	205,716
Selling, general and administrative expenses	123,750	120,011
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	1,992	4,289
Income before interest and income taxes	86,561	81,416
Interest expense	13,284	15,145
Interest income	641	877
Income before income taxes	73,918	67,148
Provision for income taxes	23,169	21,252
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates	50,749	45,896
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	1,476	1,897
Net income	52,225	47,793
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	77	346
Net income attributable to Sonoco	$52,302	$48,139
Weighted average common shares outstanding:	'	'
Basic (in shares)	102,771	102,273
Diluted (in shares)	103,767	102,814
Net income attributable to Sonoco per common share:	'	'
Basic (in usd per share)	$0.51	$0.47
Diluted (in usd per share)	$0.50	$0.47
Cash dividends (in usd per share)	$0.31	$0.30

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'
Net income	$52,225	$47,793
Other comprehensive income/(loss):	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-7,359	-19,609
Changes in defined benefit plans, net of tax	4,174	6,486
Changes in derivative financial instruments, net of tax	236	4,660
Other comprehensive loss	-2,949	-8,463
Comprehensive income	49,276	39,330
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	77	346
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	119	294
Comprehensive income attributable to Sonoco	$49,472	$39,970

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'		'
Net income	$52,225		$47,793
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'		'
Asset impairment	492		1,043
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	47,179		47,231
Share-based compensation expense	5,560		2,435
Equity in earnings of affiliates	-1,476		-1,897
Cash dividends from affiliated companies	900		2,225
(Gain)/Loss on disposition of assets	-872		65
Pension and postretirement plan expense	9,113		13,715
Pension and postretirement plan contributions	-43,515		-15,486
Tax effect of share-based compensation exercises	1,664		2,508
Excess tax benefit of share-based compensation	-1,758		-977
Net increase in deferred taxes	2,388		10,496
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions, dispositions, and foreign currency adjustments:	'		'
Trade accounts receivable	-68,142		-30,601
Inventories	-3,185		-15,517
Payable to suppliers	12,722		44,031
Prepaid expenses	-1,348		-2,094
Accrued expenses	5,505		-10,331
Income taxes payable and other income tax items	25,388		31,811
Fox River environmental reserves	4		-1,017
Other assets and liabilities	2,620		10,891
Net cash provided by operating activities	45,464		136,324
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'		'
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	-37,717		-55,539
Proceeds from the sale of assets	2,299		246
Investment in affiliates and other, net	22		-3,628
Net cash used in investing activities	-35,396		-58,921
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'		'
Proceeds from issuance of debt	14,156		14,220
Principal repayment of debt	-10,461		-143,548
Net decrease in commercial paper	0		-129,000
Net increase in outstanding checks	182		892
Excess tax benefit of share-based compensation	1,758		977
Cash dividends	-31,725		-30,303
Shares acquired	-10,678		-1,689
Shares issued	1,867		5,143
Net cash used in financing activities	-34,901		-283,308
Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash	-1,327		-3,729
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	-26,160		-209,634
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	217,567	[1]	373,084
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$191,407		$163,450
[1]	The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis_of_Interim_Presentation

Basis of Interim Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Basis of Interim Presentation	'
	Basis of Interim Presentation
	In the opinion of the management of Sonoco Products Company (the “Company” or “Sonoco”), the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, unless otherwise stated) necessary to state fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods reported herein. Operating results for the three months ended March 30, 2014, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2014. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.
	Effective January 1, 2014, Sonoco Alloyd, the Company’s retail packaging business and previously part of the Protective Solutions segment, began being reported as part of the Display and Packaging segment. Prior period results for the affected segments have been retrospectively revised to reflect this change.
	With respect to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial information of the Company for the three-month periods ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013 included in this Form 10-Q, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report dated April 30, 2014 appearing herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their report on the unaudited financial information because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of a registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

New_Accounting_Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]	'
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2013-11, "Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists." ASU 2013-11 clarified guidance and eliminated diversity in practice on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists at the reporting date. This new guidance became effective for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2013; accordingly, the Company implemented ASU 2013-11 effective January 1, 2014. The impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements from applying this new guidance was immaterial.
	During the three-month period ended March 30, 2014, there have been no other newly issued nor newly applicable accounting pronouncements that have had, or are expected to have, a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. Further, at March 30, 2014, there were no other pronouncements pending adoption that are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Shareholders_Equity

Shareholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Shareholders' Equity	'
	Shareholders' Equity
	Earnings per Share
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
		Three Months Ended
		March 30,		March 31,
		2014		2013
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to Sonoco	$	52,302	$	48,139
	Denominator:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding:
	Basic	102,771,000		102,273,000
	Dilutive effect of stock-based compensation	996,000		541,000
	Diluted	103,767,000		102,814,000
	Reported net income attributable to Sonoco per common share:
	Basic	$	0.51	$	0.47
	Diluted	$	0.5	$	0.47
	Certain stock appreciation rights to purchase shares of the Company's common stock are not dilutive because the exercise price is greater than the market price of the stock at the end of the reporting period. The average number of stock appreciation rights that were not dilutive and therefore not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share was 643,827 during the three-month period ended March 30, 2014, and 2,182,261 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2013. No adjustments were made to reported net income attributable to Sonoco in the computations of earnings per share.
	Stock Repurchases
	The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 5,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. A total of 132,500 shares were repurchased under this authorization in 2013. During the three months ended March 30, 2014, an additional 208,000 shares were purchased at a cost of $8,635; accordingly, at March 30, 2014, a total of 4,659,500 shares remain available for repurchase.
	The Company frequently repurchases shares of its common stock to satisfy employee tax withholding obligations in association with certain share-based compensation awards. These repurchases, which are not part of a publicly announced plan or program, totaled 48,581 shares in the first three months of 2014 at a cost of $2,043, and 56,016 shares in the first three months of 2013 at a cost of $1,689.
	Dividend Declarations
	On February 12, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share. This dividend was paid on March 10, 2014 to all shareholders of record as of February 26, 2014.
	On April 16, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share. This dividend is payable June 10, 2014 to all shareholders of record as of May 16, 2014.

Restructuring_and_Asset_Impair

Restructuring and Asset Impairment	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring and Asset Impairment	'
	Restructuring and Asset Impairment
	The Company has engaged in a number of restructuring actions over the past several years. Actions initiated in 2014 and 2013 are reported as “2014 Actions” and “2013 Actions,” respectively. Actions initiated prior to 2013, all of which were substantially complete at March 30, 2014, are reported as “2012 and Earlier Actions.”
	Following are the total restructuring and asset impairment charges/(credits), net of adjustments, recognized by the Company during the periods presented:
		Three Months Ended
		March 30,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Restructuring/Asset impairment:
	2014 Actions	$	1,399		$	—
	2013 Actions	1,275			1,316
	2012 and Earlier Actions	(682		)	2,973
	Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	$	1,992		$	4,289
	Income tax benefit	(411		)	(1,283		)
	(Cost)/Benefit attributable to noncontrolling interests,	(4		)	27
	net of tax
	Total impact of restructuring/asset impairment	$	1,577		$	3,033
	charges, net of tax
	Pre-tax restructuring and asset impairment charges are included in “Restructuring/Asset impairment charges” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
	The Company expects to recognize future additional charges totaling approximately $2,500 in connection with announced restructuring actions, when recognizable in accordance with GAAP, and believes that the majority of these charges will be incurred and paid by the end of 2014. The Company continually evaluates its cost structure, including its manufacturing capacity, and additional restructuring actions may be undertaken.
	2014 Actions
	During 2014, the Company announced the closure of a recycling facility in the United States and a tube and core plant in Canada (parts of the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment). In addition, the Company continued its
	manufacturing rationalization efforts in its blow-molding businesses (part of the Consumer Packaging segment), and realigned its cost structure, resulting in the elimination of approximately 45 positions.
	Below is a summary of 2014 Actions and related expenses by segment and by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through completion.
	2014 Actions	First			Estimated
		Quarter			Total Cost
		2014
	Severance and Termination Benefits
	Consumer Packaging	$	650		$	650
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	265			315
	Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	473			473
	Other Costs
	Consumer Packaging	11			11
	Total Charges and Adjustments	$	1,399		$	1,449
	The following table sets forth the activity in the 2014 Actions restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	2014 Actions	Severance			Asset			Other			Total
		and			Impairment/			Costs
		Termination			Disposal
	Accrual Activity	Benefits			of Assets
	2014 Year to Date
	Liability at December 31, 2013	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
	2014 charges	914			473			12			1,399
	Cash receipts/(payments)	(768		)	—			(12		)	(780		)
	Asset write downs/disposals	—			(473		)	—			(473		)
	Liability at March 30, 2014	$	146		$	—		$	—		$	146
	The Company expects to pay the majority of the remaining 2014 Actions restructuring costs by the end of 2014 using cash generated from operations.
	2013 Actions
	During 2013, the Company announced the closures of a thermoforming plant in Ireland and a rigid paper packaging plant in the United States (parts of the Consumer Packaging segment), a small tube and core operation in Europe (part of the Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment), and a fulfillment service center in the United States (part of the Display and Packaging segment). The Company also sold a small corrugated box operation in the United States (part of the Protective Solutions segment) and realigned its cost structure, resulting in the elimination of approximately 120 positions.
	Below is a summary of 2013 Actions and related expenses by segment and by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through completion.
	2013 Actions	First			First			Total			Estimated
		Quarter			Quarter			Incurred			Total Cost
		2014			2013			to Date
	Severance and Termination Benefits
	Consumer Packaging	$	362		$	435		$	5,272		$	5,772
	Display and Packaging	165			—			759			909
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	610			500			3,957			4,007
	Protective Solutions	8			40			1,034			1,034
	Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets
	Consumer Packaging	—			—			5,926			5,926
	Display and Packaging	—			—			165			165
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	(542		)	251			(50		)	(50		)
	Protective Solutions	(6		)	—			656			656
	Other Costs
	Consumer Packaging	486			—			1,507			1,907
Display and Packaging	90			—			175			325
Paper and Industrial Converted Products	53			90			500			600
Protective Solutions	49			—			195			295
Total Charges and Adjustments	$	1,275		$	1,316		$	20,096		$	21,546
The following table sets forth the activity in the 2013 Actions restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
2013 Actions	Severance			Asset			Other			Total
	and			Impairment/			Costs
	Termination			Disposal
Accrual Activity	Benefits			of Assets
2014 Year to Date
Liability at December 31, 2013	$	3,258		$	—		$	—		$	3,258
2014 charges	1,184			93			686			1,963
Adjustments	(40		)	(641		)	(7		)	(688		)
Cash receipts/(payments)	(1,624		)	769			(679		)	(1,534		)
Asset write downs/disposals	—			(221		)	—			(221		)
Liability at March 30, 2014	$	2,778		$	—		$	—		$	2,778
Included in "Asset Impairment/Disposal of Assets" above is a gain from the sale of a previously closed facility in New Zealand. “Other costs” consist primarily of costs related to plant closures including equipment removal, utilities, plant security, property taxes and insurance. The Company expects to pay the majority of the remaining 2013 Actions restructuring costs by the end of 2014 using cash generated from operations.
2012 and Earlier Actions
2012 and Earlier Actions are comprised of a number of plant closures and workforce reductions initiated prior to 2013. Charges for these actions in both 2014 and 2013 relate primarily to the cost of plant closures including severance, equipment removal, plant security, property taxes and insurance. Offsetting these charges in the first quarter of 2014 were gains from the sales of a former blow-molding facility in Canada and a former rigid paper facility in the United States, closed in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
The Company expects to recognize future pretax charges of approximately $1,000 associated with 2012 and Earlier Actions.
Below is a summary of expenses/(income) incurred by segment for 2012 and Earlier Actions for the three-month periods ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013.
2012 and Earlier Actions	First			First
	Quarter			Quarter
	2014			2013
Consumer Packaging	$	(849	)	$	808
Display and Packaging	(8		)	5
Paper and Industrial Converted Products	175			1,163
Protective Solutions	—			997
Total Charges/(Income) and Adjustments	$	(682	)	$	2,973
The accrual for 2012 and Earlier Actions totaled $3,746 and $4,547 at March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and is included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accrual relates primarily to a pension withdrawal liability associated with a former paper mill in the United States and unpaid severance. The Company expects the majority of both the liability and the future costs associated with 2012 and Earlier Actions to be paid in 2014 using cash generated from operations.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	The following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss and the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax as applicable, for the three months ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013:
			Gains and			Defined			Foreign			Accumulated
			Losses on Cash			Benefit			Currency			Other
			Flow Hedges			Pension Items			Items			Comprehensive
												Loss
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	(262	)	$	(333,106	)	$	(25,152	)	$	(358,520	)
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications		1,350			—			(7,359		)	(6,009		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income		(1,125		)	4,174			—			3,049
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to fixed assets		11			—			—			11
	Net current-period other comprehensive		236			4,174			(7,359		)	(2,949		)
	income/(loss)
	Balance at March 30, 2014		$	(26	)	$	(328,932	)	$	(32,511	)	$	(361,469	)
	Balance at December 31, 2012		$	(6,727	)	$	(472,333	)	$	3,234		$	(475,826	)
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications		3,576			—			(19,609		)	(16,033		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income		1,009			6,486			—			7,495
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to fixed assets		75			—			—			75
	Net current-period other comprehensive		4,660			6,486			(19,609		)	(8,463		)
	income/(loss)
	Balance at March 31, 2013		$	(2,067	)	$	(465,847	)	$	(16,375	)	$	(484,289	)
	The following table summarizes the effects on net income of significant amounts classified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013:
			Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive		Three months ended March 30, 2014			Three months ended March 31, 2013			Affected Line Item in the
	Loss Components								Condensed Consolidated
									Statements of Net  Income
	Gains and losses on cash flow hedges
	Foreign exchange contracts		$	(999	)	$	444		Net sales
	Foreign exchange contracts		1,862			(403		)	Cost of sales
	Commodity contracts		717			(1,656		)	Cost of sales
			1,580			(1,615		)	Total before tax
			(455		)	606			Tax (provision)/benefit
			$	1,125		$	(1,009	)	Net of tax
	Defined benefit pension items
	Amortization of defined benefit pension items(a)		$	(4,667	)	$	(7,645	)	Cost of sales
	Amortization of defined benefit pension items(a)		(1,556		)	(2,548		)	Selling, general and
									administrative
			(6,223		)	(10,193		)	Total before tax
			2,049			3,707			Tax benefit
			$	(4,174	)	$	(6,486	)	Net of tax
	Total reclassifications for the period		$	(3,049	)	$	(7,495	)	Net of tax
	(a)	See Note 9 for additional details.
	At March 30, 2014, the Company had commodity contracts outstanding to fix the costs of certain anticipated purchases of natural gas and aluminum, and foreign currency contracts to hedge certain anticipated foreign currency denominated sales and purchases. These contracts, which have maturities ranging from April 2014 to December 2015, qualify as cash flow hedges under U.S. GAAP. The amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to these cash flow hedges were net losses of $96 ($26 after tax) at March 30, 2014, and $427 ($262 after tax) at December 31, 2013.
	The cumulative tax benefit on Cash Flow Hedges included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss was $70 at March 30, 2014, and $165 at December 31, 2013. During the three month period ended March 30, 2014, the tax benefit on Cash Flow Hedges changed by $(95).
	The cumulative tax benefit on Defined Benefit Pension Items was $187,619 at March 30, 2014, and $189,668 at December 31, 2013. During the three month period ended March 30, 2014, the tax benefit on Defined Benefit Pension Items decreased by $(2,049).
	During the three-month period ended March 30, 2014, changes in noncontrolling interests included foreign currency translation adjustments of $(119).

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	'
	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
	Goodwill
	A summary of the changes in goodwill by segment for the three months ended March 30, 2014 is as follows:
		Consumer			Display			Paper and			Protective		Total
		Packaging			and			Industrial			Solutions
					Packaging			Converted
								Products
	Goodwill at December 31, 2013	$	418,765		$	204,629		$	254,648		$	221,165	$	1,099,207
	Foreign currency translation	(3,952		)	—			(41		)	—		(3,993		)
	Goodwill at March 30, 2014	$	414,813		$	204,629		$	254,607		$	221,165	$	1,095,214
	The Company assesses goodwill for impairment annually and from time to time when warranted by the facts and circumstances surrounding individual reporting units or the Company as a whole. As part of this testing, the Company analyzes certain qualitative and quantitative factors in determining goodwill impairment. For most of its reporting units, only a qualitative analysis is required for management to reach a conclusion that it is not more likely than not that goodwill has been impaired.
	For any reporting unit where management is not able to reach this conclusion based on its qualitative assessment, a more detailed analysis (i.e., step 1 analysis) is performed. In this analysis, the fair values of the reporting units are estimated utilizing both an income approach and a market approach. A number of significant management assumptions and estimates were reflected in the Company's forecast of future results and cash flows, such as: sales volumes and prices, profit margins, income taxes, capital expenditures and changes in working capital requirements. Changes in these assumptions, along with the discount rate could materially impact the estimated fair values.
	When the Company estimates the fair value of a reporting unit, it does so using a discounted cash flow model based on projections of future years' operating results and associated cash flows, together with comparable trading and transaction multiples. The Company's model discounts projected future cash flows, forecasted over a ten-year period, with an estimated residual growth rate. The Company's projections incorporate management's best estimates of the expected future results, which include expectations related to new business, and, where applicable, improved operating margins. Management’s projections related to revenue growth and/or margin improvements arise from a combination of factors, including expectations for volume growth with existing customers, product expansion, improved price/cost, productivity gains, fixed cost leverage, improvement in general economic conditions, increased operational capacity and customer retention. Projected future cash flows are then discounted to present value using a discount rate management believes is commensurate with the risks inherent in the cash flows.
	The Company completed its most recent annual goodwill impairment testing during the third quarter of 2013. Based on the results of its qualitative and quantitative assessments, the Company concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill for any of its reporting units. Because the Company’s assessments, whether qualitative or quantitative, incorporate management’s expectations for the future, including forecasted growth rates and/or margin improvements, if there are changes in the relevant facts and circumstances and/or expectations, management’s assessment regarding goodwill impairment may change as well. In considering the level of uncertainty regarding the potential for goodwill impairment, management has concluded that any such impairment would likely be the result of adverse changes in more than one assumption.
	Although no reporting units failed the qualitative or quantitative assessments noted above, in management’s opinion, the reporting units with significant goodwill having the greatest risk of future impairment if actual results in the future are not as expected are Plastics – Blowmolding and Plastics – Thermoforming. Total goodwill associated with these reporting units was approximately $124,800 and $53,200, respectively, at March 30, 2014. Although management believes that goodwill of the Display and Packaging reporting unit is not currently at risk for impairment, a large portion of sales in this unit is concentrated in one customer and will be up for negotiation over the next few years. Management expects to retain this business; however, if a significant amount is lost and not replaced, it is possible that a goodwill impairment charge may be incurred. Total goodwill associated with this reporting unit was approximately $196,700 at March 30, 2014.
	There were no triggering events between the most recent annual impairment test and March 30, 2014. However, the Plastics – Blowmolding business referenced above continued experiencing some short-term performance issues during the first quarter of 2014. The goodwill for this unit could become impaired should the business not exhibit the sustained improvements expected or if management’s outlook changes.
	Other Intangible Assets
	A summary of other intangible assets as of March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		March 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Other Intangible Assets, gross
	Patents	$	2,219		$	2,221
	Customer lists	338,980			339,911
	Trade names	21,214			21,232
	Proprietary technology	17,866			17,866
	Land use rights	330			323
	Other	4,711			4,731
	Other Intangible Assets, gross	$	385,320		$	386,284
	Accumulated Amortization	$	(148,776	)	$	(142,364	)
	Other Intangible Assets, net	$	236,544		$	243,920
	Other intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective useful lives, which generally range from three to forty years. The Company has no intangibles with indefinite lives.
	Aggregate amortization expense was $6,863 and $7,175 for the three months ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013, respectively. Amortization expense on other intangible assets is expected to approximate $27,800 in 2014, $26,300 in 2015, $26,000 in 2016, $25,700 in 2017 and $25,300 in 2018.

Financial_Instruments_and_Deri

Financial Instruments and Derivatives	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Financial Instruments and Derivatives	'
	Financial Instruments and Derivatives
	The following table sets forth the carrying amounts and fair values of the Company’s significant financial instruments for which the carrying amount differs from the fair value.
			March 30, 2014								December 31, 2013
			Carrying				Fair				Carrying			Fair
			Amount				Value				Amount			Value
	Long-term debt, net of current portion		$	946,512			$	1,032,366			$	946,257		$	999,247
	The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, short-term debt and long-term variable-rate debt approximates fair value. The fair value of long-term debt is determined based on recent trade information in the financial markets of the Company’s public debt or is determined by discounting future cash flows using interest rates available to the Company for issues with similar terms and maturities. It is considered a Level 2 fair value measurement.
	Cash Flow Hedges
	At March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had derivative financial instruments outstanding to hedge anticipated transactions and certain asset and liability related cash flows. To the extent considered effective, the changes in fair value of these contracts are recorded in other comprehensive income and reclassified to income or expense in the period in which the hedged item impacts earnings. The Company has determined all hedges to be highly effective and as a result no material ineffectiveness has been recorded.
	Commodity Cash Flow Hedges
	The Company has entered into certain derivative contracts to manage the cost of anticipated purchases of natural gas and aluminum. At March 30, 2014, natural gas swaps covering approximately 5.5 million MMBTUs were outstanding. These contracts represent approximately 75% and 56% of anticipated U.S. and Canadian usage for the remainder of 2014 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, the Company had swap contracts covering 4,712 metric tons of aluminum representing approximately 34% of anticipated usage for the remainder of 2014. The fair values of the Company’s commodity cash flow hedges were in a gain position of $1,649 and a loss position of $(330) at March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The amount of the gain included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at March 30, 2014, that is expected to be reclassified to the income statement during the next twelve months is $1,106.
	Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedges
	The Company has entered into forward contracts to hedge certain anticipated foreign currency denominated sales and purchases forecast to occur in 2014. The net positions of these contracts at March 30, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):
	Currency	Action	Quantity
	Colombian peso	purchase	11,127,713
	Mexican peso	purchase	204,153
	Canadian dollar	purchase	39,897
	Turkish lira	purchase	4,998
	British pound	purchase	3,545
	Polish zloty	purchase	1,993
	New Zealand dollar	sell	(3,123	)
	Euro	sell	(4,644	)
	Australian dollar	sell	(4,734	)
	Russian ruble	sell	(31,843	)
	The fair value of these foreign currency cash flow hedges netted to a loss position of $(1,725) at March 30, 2014 and $(97) at December 31, 2013. During the first three months of 2014, certain foreign currency cash flow hedges related to construction in progress were settled as the related capital expenditures were made. Losses from these hedges totaling $11 were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss and included in the carrying value of the assets acquired. During the next twelve months, a loss of $(1,754) is expected to be reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss to the income statement.
	Other Derivatives
	The Company routinely enters into forward contracts or swaps to economically hedge the currency exposure of intercompany debt and existing foreign currency denominated receivables and payables. The Company does not apply hedge accounting treatment under ASC 815 for these instruments. As such, changes in fair value are recorded directly to income and expense in the periods that they occur. The net positions of these contracts at March 30, 2014, were as follows (in thousands):
	Currency	Action	Quantity
	Colombian peso	purchase	14,962,012
	Mexican peso	purchase	308,869
	Canadian dollar	purchase	14,344
	Euro	purchase	9,424
	Thai baht	sell	(194,730	)
	The fair value of the Company’s other derivatives was $508 and $415 at March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
	The following table sets forth the location and fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments at March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	Description		Balance Sheet Location		March 30,				December 31,
					2014				2013
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Commodity Contracts		Prepaid expenses		$	1,360			$	535
	Commodity Contracts		Other assets		$	528			$	363
	Commodity Contracts		Accrued expenses and other		$	(239	)		$	(1,228	)
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		Prepaid expenses		$	659			$	896
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		Accrued expenses and other		$	(2,384	)		$	(993	)
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		Prepaid expenses		$	546			$	468
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		Accrued expenses and other		$	(38	)		$	(53	)
	While certain of the Company’s derivative contract arrangements with its counterparties provide for the ability to settle contracts on a net basis, the Company reports its derivative positions on a gross basis. There are no collateral arrangements or requirements in these agreements.
	Derivatives not designated as hedging
	instruments:
	The following tables set forth the effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on financial performance for the three months ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013:
	Description		Amount of Gain or				Location of Gain		Amount of Gain or				Location of Gain	Amount of Gain
			(Loss) Recognized				or (Loss)		(Loss) Reclassified				or (Loss)	or (Loss) Recognized
			in OCI on				Reclassified from		from Accumulated				Recognized in	in Income on
			Derivative				Accumulated OCI		OCI Into Income				Income on	Derivative
			(Effective Portion)				Into Income		(Effective Portion)				Derivative	(Ineffective
							(Effective Portion)						(Ineffective Portion)	Portion)
	Three months ended March 30, 2014
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		$	(776	)		Net sales		$	(999	)		Net sales	$	—
							Cost of sales		$	1,862
	Commodity Contracts		$	2,676			Cost of sales		$	717			Cost of sales	$	(20	)
	Three months ended March 31, 2013
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
Foreign Exchange Contracts		$	4,256			Net sales		$	444			Net sales	$	—
						Cost of sales		$	(403	)
Commodity Contracts		$	1,738			Cost of sales		$	(1,656	)		Cost of sales	$	(127	)
Derivatives not designated as hedging	Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in	Gain or (Loss)
instruments:	Income Statement	Recognized
Three months ended March 30, 2014
Foreign Exchange Contracts	Cost of sales	$	37
	Selling, general and administrative	$	56
Three months ended March 31, 2013
Foreign Exchange Contracts	Cost of sales	$	(196	)
	Selling, general and administrative	$	(11	)

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	Fair Value Measurements
	Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. A three-tier fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the inputs in measuring fair value as follows:
	Level 1 –	Observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets;
	Level 2 –	Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
	Level 3 –	Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
	The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities, excluding retirement and postretirement plan assets, measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
	Description		March 30,			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
			2014
	Hedge derivatives, net:
	Commodity contracts		$	1,649		$	—	$	1,649		$	—
	Foreign exchange contracts		(1,725		)	—		(1,725		)	—
	Non-hedge derivatives, net:
	Foreign exchange contracts		508			—		508			—
	Deferred compensation plan assets		863			863		—			—
	Description		December 31,			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
			2013
	Hedge derivatives, net:
	Commodity contracts		$	(330	)	$	—	$	(330	)	$	—
	Foreign exchange contracts		(97		)	—		(97		)	—
	Non-hedge derivatives, net:
	Foreign exchange contracts		415			—		415			—
	Deferred compensation plan assets		859			859		—			—
	As discussed in Note 7, the Company uses derivatives to mitigate the effect of raw material and energy cost fluctuations, foreign currency fluctuations and, from time to time, interest rate movements. Fair value measurements for the Company’s derivatives are classified under Level 2 because such measurements are estimated based on observable inputs such as interest rates, yield curves, spot and future commodity prices and spot and future exchange rates.
	Certain deferred compensation plan liabilities are funded by assets invested in various exchange traded mutual funds. These assets are measured using quoted prices in accessible active markets for identical assets.
	The Company does not currently have any nonfinancial assets or liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis. None of the Company’s financial assets or liabilities is measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs. There were no transfers in or out of Level 1 or Level 2 fair value measurements during the three month periods ended March 30, 2014.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plans	'
	Employee Benefit Plans
	Retirement Plans and Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
	The Company provides non-contributory defined benefit pension plans for a majority of its employees in the United States and certain of its employees in Mexico and Belgium. Effective December 31, 2003, the Company froze participation for newly hired salaried and non-union hourly U.S. employees in its traditional defined benefit pension plan. At that time, the Company adopted a defined contribution plan, the Sonoco Investment and Retirement Plan (SIRP), which covers its non-union U.S. employees hired on or after January 1, 2004. The Company also sponsors contributory defined benefit pension plans covering the majority of its employees in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands.
	On February 4, 2009, the U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan was amended to freeze plan benefits for all active participants effective December 31, 2018. Remaining active participants in the U.S. qualified plan will become participants of the SIRP effective January 1, 2019.
	The Company also provides postretirement healthcare and life insurance benefits to a limited number of its retirees and their dependents in the United States and Canada, based on certain age and/or service eligibility requirements.
	The components of net periodic benefit cost include the following:
		Three Months Ended
		March 30,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Retirement Plans
	Service cost	$	5,167		$	6,135
	Interest cost	17,897			16,604
	Expected return on plan assets	(22,753		)	(21,392		)
	Amortization of net transition obligation	99			110
	Amortization of prior service cost	163			103
	Amortization of net actuarial loss	6,302			10,713
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	6,875		$	12,273
	Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
	Service cost	$	173		$	222
	Interest cost	257			244
	Expected return on plan assets	(387		)	(371		)
	Amortization of prior service credit	(337		)	(733		)
	Amortization of net actuarial loss	(24		)	(1		)
	Net periodic benefit income	$	(318	)	$	(639	)
	The Company made contributions of $31,466 and $6,196 to its defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans during the three months ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013, respectively. The Company anticipates that it will make additional contributions of approximately $22,000 to its defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans in 2014.
	Sonoco Investment and Retirement Plan (SIRP)
	The Company recognized SIRP expense totaling $2,556 and $2,081 for the quarters ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013, respectively. Contributions to the SIRP, funded annually in the first quarter, totaled $12,049 during the three months ended March 30, 2014, and $9,290 during the three months ended March 31, 2013. No additional SIRP contributions are expected during the remainder of 2014.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The Company’s effective tax rate for the three-month periods ending March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013, was 31.3% and 31.6%, respectively. The rates for both years varied from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to the favorable effect of international operations that are subject to tax rates generally lower than the U.S. rate, the favorable effect of the manufacturer’s deduction and contingencies recorded for uncertain tax positions.
	The Company and/or its subsidiaries file federal, state and local income tax returns in the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, or non-U.S., income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2009. With respect to state and local income taxes, the Company is no longer subject to examination prior to 2008, with few exceptions.
	There have been no significant changes in the Company’s liability for uncertain tax positions since December 31, 2013. The Company’s estimate for the potential outcome for any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental. Management believes that any reasonably foreseeable outcomes related to these matters have been adequately provided for. However, future results may include favorable or unfavorable adjustments to estimated tax liabilities in the period the assessments are made or resolved or when statutes of limitation on potential assessments expire. Additionally, the jurisdictions in which earnings or deductions are realized may differ from current estimates. As a result, the Company’s effective tax rate may fluctuate significantly on a quarterly basis.

Segment_Reporting

Segment Reporting	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Reporting	'
	Segment Reporting
	The Company reports its financial results in four reportable segments: Consumer Packaging, Display and Packaging, Paper and Industrial Converted Products, and Protective Solutions. Effective January 1, 2014, Sonoco Alloyd, the Company’s retail packaging business and previously part of the Protective Solutions segment, began being reported as part of the Display and Packaging segment. This change reflects the evolving integration occurring between these businesses, enabling them to better leverage the Company’s capabilities, products and services to provide complete solutions to our retail merchandising customers. Prior period results for the affected segments have been retrospectively revised to reflect this change.
	The Consumer Packaging segment includes the following products and services: round and shaped rigid containers and trays (both composite and thermoformed plastic); blow-molded plastic bottles and jars; extruded and injection-molded plastic products; printed flexible packaging; global brand artwork management; and metal and peelable membrane ends and closures.
	The Display and Packaging segment includes the following products and services: designing, manufacturing, assembling, packing and distributing temporary, semipermanent and permanent point-of-purchase displays; supply chain management services, including contract packing, fulfillment and scalable service centers; retail packaging, including printed backer cards, thermoformed blisters and heat sealing equipment; and paper amenities, such as coasters and glass covers.
	The Paper and Industrial Converted Products segment includes the following products: paperboard tubes and cores; fiber-based construction tubes and forms; wooden, metal and composite wire and cable reels and spools; and recycled paperboard, linerboard, corrugating medium, recovered paper and material recycling services.
	The Protective Solutions segment includes the following products: custom-engineered, paperboard-based and expanded foam protective packaging and components; and temperature-assured packaging.
	The following table sets forth net sales, intersegment sales and operating profit for the Company’s reportable segments. “Segment operating profit” is defined as the segment’s portion of “Income before interest and income taxes” excluding restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition-related costs, and certain other items, if any, the exclusion of which the Company believes improves comparability and analysis of the financial performance of the business. General corporate expenses have been allocated as operating costs to each of the Company’s reportable segments.
	SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
		Three Months Ended
		March 30,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Net sales:
	Consumer Packaging	$	464,925		$	463,300
	Display and Packaging	153,022			144,575
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	455,610			454,207
	Protective Solutions	112,069			117,131
	Consolidated	$	1,185,626		$	1,179,213
	Intersegment sales:
	Consumer Packaging	$	1,033		$	1,359
	Display and Packaging	383			655
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	26,345			23,455
	Protective Solutions	566			673
	Consolidated	$	28,327		$	26,142
	Income before interest and income taxes:
	Segment operating profit:
	Consumer Packaging	$	48,183		$	42,340
	Display and Packaging	5,357			3,503
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	29,750			31,004
	Protective Solutions	5,287			9,724
	Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	(1,992		)	(4,289		)
	Other, net	(24		)	(866		)
	Consolidated	$	86,561		$	81,416

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Commitments and Contingencies
	Pursuant to U.S. GAAP, accruals for estimated losses are recorded at the time information becomes available indicating that losses are probable and that the amounts are reasonably estimable. As is the case with other companies in similar industries, the Company faces exposure from actual or potential claims and legal proceedings from a variety of sources. Some of these exposures, as discussed below, have the potential to be material.
	Environmental Matters
	The Company is subject to a variety of environmental and pollution control laws and regulations in all jurisdictions in which it operates.
	During the fourth quarter of 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified U.S. Paper Mills Corp. (U.S. Mills), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, that U.S. Mills and NCR Corporation (NCR), an unrelated party, would be jointly held responsible to undertake a program to remove and dispose of certain PCB-contaminated sediments at a particular site on the lower Fox River in Wisconsin (the “Site”) which is now labeled by the EPA as Phase 1. U.S. Mills and NCR reached an agreement between themselves that each would fund 50% of the costs of remediation. The Company has expensed a total of $17,650 for its estimated share of the total cleanup cost of the Site, and through March 30, 2014, has spent a total of $14,467. The remaining accrual of $3,183 represents the Company’s best estimate of what it is likely to pay to complete the Site project. However, the actual costs associated with cleanup of the Site are dependent upon many factors and it is possible that remediation costs could be higher than the current estimate of project costs. The Company acquired U.S. Mills in 2001, and the alleged contamination predates the acquisition.
	The EPA and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) have also issued a general notice of potential liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and a request to participate in remedial action implementation negotiations relating to a stretch of the lower Fox River, including the bay at Green Bay, (Operating Units 2 – 5) to eight potentially responsible parties, including U.S. Mills. Operating Units 2 – 5 include, but also comprise a vastly larger area than, the Site. A detailed description of the claims and proceedings associated therewith appears in Part II – Item 8 – “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” (Note 14 - “Commitments and Contingencies”) in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
	On October 14, 2010, the EPA and WDNR filed suit against NCR, API, U.S. Mills and nine other defendants in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (District Court) (No. 10-CV-910-WCG) pursuant to Sections 106 and 107 of CERCLA. The plaintiffs seek to recover unreimbursed costs incurred for activities undertaken in response to the release and threatened release of hazardous substances from facilities at or near the Lower Fox River and Green Bay as well as damages for injury to, loss of, and destruction of natural resources resulting from such releases. The plaintiffs also seek a ruling that the defendants are liable for future response costs of the plaintiffs and requiring the defendants to comply with the unilateral Administrative Order for Remedial Action discussed in prior filings. The Company does not believe that the remedies sought in the suit materially expand the Company’s potential liability beyond what has been disclosed in this report or in the Company’s prior filings with the SEC. U.S. Mills has entered into a stipulation with the plaintiffs that, in exchange for U.S. Mills’ admitting that it is liable for discharging wastewater containing PCBs into the river, the plaintiffs would not seek an injunction in this proceeding against U.S. Mills requiring it to participate in the completion of the Fox River remediation. In June 2013 the court ordered some of the other defendants, including NCR but not U.S. Mills, to complete the remediation and the order has been appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (7th Circuit). As described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2014, U.S. Mills and five other defendants have reached a conditional agreement with the EPA and WDNR to settle various issues in the litigation. Finalization of the proposed settlement is subject to a number of contingencies including approval by the District Court, and will not be effective unless and until it has been approved by the District Court. The proposed settlement could be withdrawn by the United States if comments received in conjunction with a mandatory 30-day public comment period disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the settlement is improper, inappropriate, inadequate, or not in the public interest. If consent is not withdrawn following the comment period, the EPA will request the District Court’s approval and entry of a consent decree relating to the settlement. If this request occurs before a decision is reached by the 7th Circuit with respect to pending appeals of certain other orders in this case, then the EPA will further seek an indicative ruling on the request from the District Court and an appropriate remand by the 7th Circuit to ensure the District Court possesses clear authority to approve and enter the consent decree. As a result of the above required actions and the unpredictability of court decisions, the timing and eventual outcome of the proposed settlement, as well as the financial statement impact to the Company, are uncertain. U.S. Mills plans to continue to defend its interests in both suits vigorously.
	Since 2007, U.S. Mills has expensed a total of $60,825 for potential liabilities associated with the Fox River contamination (not including amounts expensed for remediation at the Site) and through March 30, 2014, has spent a total of $11,880, primarily on legal fees, leaving a reserve of $48,945 remaining at March 30, 2014 for potential liabilities associated with the Fox River contamination (not including amounts accrued for remediation at the Site). Because of the continuing uncertainties in the estimated costs of remediation and continuing uncertainties surrounding U.S. Mills’ allocable share, including a potentially favorable resolution, it is impossible to state with any reasonable degree of confidence that any estimate is a better estimate than the amount recorded. However, because the discharges of hazardous materials into the environment occurred before the Company acquired U.S. Mills, and U.S. Mills has been operated as a separate subsidiary of the Company, the Company does not believe that it bears financial responsibility for these legacy environmental liabilities of U.S. Mills. Therefore, the Company continues to believe that the maximum additional exposure to its consolidated financial position beyond what has been reserved is limited to the equity position of U.S. Mills, which was approximately $94,000 at March 30, 2014.
	On November 8, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of Tegrant Holding Corporation. During its due diligence, the Company identified several potential environmentally contaminated sites. The total remediation cost of these sites was preliminarily estimated to be $18,850 at the time of acquisition and an accrual in this amount was recorded on Tegrant’s opening balance sheet.
	The Company has been named as a potentially responsible party at several other environmentally contaminated sites. All of the sites are also the responsibility of other parties. The potential remediation liabilities are shared with such other parties, and, in most cases, the Company’s share, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated at the current time.
	As of March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company (and its subsidiaries) had accrued $72,889 and $73,032, respectively, related to environmental contingencies. Of these, a total of $52,128 and $52,124 relate to U.S. Mills and $18,337 and $18,429 relate to Tegrant at March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. These accruals are included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. U.S. Mills recognized a $40,825 benefit in 2008 from settlements reached and proceeds received on certain insurance policies covering the Fox River contamination. U.S. Mills’ two remaining insurance carriers are in liquidation. It is possible that U.S. Mills may recover from these carriers a small portion of the costs it ultimately incurs. U.S. Mills may also be able to reallocate some of the costs it incurs among other parties. There can be no assurance that such claims for recovery or reallocation would be successful and no amounts have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements of the Company for such potential recovery or reallocation.
	Other Legal Matters
	In addition to those matters described above, the Company is subject to other various legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these matters could differ from management’s expectations, the Company does not believe the resolution of these matters has a reasonable possibility of having a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements.

New_Accounting_Pronouncements_

New Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]	'
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2013-11, "Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists." ASU 2013-11 clarified guidance and eliminated diversity in practice on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists at the reporting date. This new guidance became effective for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2013; accordingly, the Company implemented ASU 2013-11 effective January 1, 2014. The impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements from applying this new guidance was immaterial.
	During the three-month period ended March 30, 2014, there have been no other newly issued nor newly applicable accounting pronouncements that have had, or are expected to have, a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. Further, at March 30, 2014, there were no other pronouncements pending adoption that are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Shareholders_Equity_Tables

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share	'
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
		Three Months Ended
		March 30,		March 31,
		2014		2013
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to Sonoco	$	52,302	$	48,139
	Denominator:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding:
	Basic	102,771,000		102,273,000
	Dilutive effect of stock-based compensation	996,000		541,000
	Diluted	103,767,000		102,814,000
	Reported net income attributable to Sonoco per common share:
	Basic	$	0.51	$	0.47
	Diluted	$	0.5	$	0.47

Restructuring_and_Asset_Impair1

Restructuring and Asset Impairment (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Total Restructuring and Asset Impairment Charges Net	'
	Following are the total restructuring and asset impairment charges/(credits), net of adjustments, recognized by the Company during the periods presented:
		Three Months Ended
		March 30,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Restructuring/Asset impairment:
	2014 Actions	$	1,399		$	—
	2013 Actions	1,275			1,316
	2012 and Earlier Actions	(682		)	2,973
	Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	$	1,992		$	4,289
	Income tax benefit	(411		)	(1,283		)
	(Cost)/Benefit attributable to noncontrolling interests,	(4		)	27
	net of tax
	Total impact of restructuring/asset impairment	$	1,577		$	3,033
	charges, net of tax
Actions and Related Expenses by Segment and by Type Incurred and Estimated for Given Years	'
	Below is a summary of 2014 Actions and related expenses by segment and by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through completion.
	2014 Actions	First			Estimated
		Quarter			Total Cost
		2014
	Severance and Termination Benefits
	Consumer Packaging	$	650		$	650
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	265			315
	Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	473			473
	Other Costs
	Consumer Packaging	11			11
	Total Charges and Adjustments	$	1,399		$	1,449
	Below is a summary of 2013 Actions and related expenses by segment and by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through completion.
	2013 Actions	First			First			Total			Estimated
		Quarter			Quarter			Incurred			Total Cost
		2014			2013			to Date
	Severance and Termination Benefits
	Consumer Packaging	$	362		$	435		$	5,272		$	5,772
	Display and Packaging	165			—			759			909
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	610			500			3,957			4,007
	Protective Solutions	8			40			1,034			1,034
	Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets
	Consumer Packaging	—			—			5,926			5,926
	Display and Packaging	—			—			165			165
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	(542		)	251			(50		)	(50		)
	Protective Solutions	(6		)	—			656			656
	Other Costs
	Consumer Packaging	486			—			1,507			1,907
	Display and Packaging	90			—			175			325
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	53			90			500			600
	Protective Solutions	49			—			195			295
	Total Charges and Adjustments	$	1,275		$	1,316		$	20,096		$	21,546
	Below is a summary of expenses/(income) incurred by segment for 2012 and Earlier Actions for the three-month periods ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013.
	2012 and Earlier Actions	First			First
		Quarter			Quarter
		2014			2013
	Consumer Packaging	$	(849	)	$	808
	Display and Packaging	(8		)	5
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	175			1,163
	Protective Solutions	—			997
	Total Charges/(Income) and Adjustments	$	(682	)	$	2,973
Restructuring Accrual Activity for Given Years	'
	The following table sets forth the activity in the 2013 Actions restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	2013 Actions	Severance			Asset			Other			Total
		and			Impairment/			Costs
		Termination			Disposal
	Accrual Activity	Benefits			of Assets
	2014 Year to Date
	Liability at December 31, 2013	$	3,258		$	—		$	—		$	3,258
	2014 charges	1,184			93			686			1,963
	Adjustments	(40		)	(641		)	(7		)	(688		)
	Cash receipts/(payments)	(1,624		)	769			(679		)	(1,534		)
	Asset write downs/disposals	—			(221		)	—			(221		)
	Liability at March 30, 2014	$	2,778		$	—		$	—		$	2,778
	The following table sets forth the activity in the 2014 Actions restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	2014 Actions	Severance			Asset			Other			Total
		and			Impairment/			Costs
		Termination			Disposal
	Accrual Activity	Benefits			of Assets
	2014 Year to Date
	Liability at December 31, 2013	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
	2014 charges	914			473			12			1,399
	Cash receipts/(payments)	(768		)	—			(12		)	(780		)
	Asset write downs/disposals	—			(473		)	—			(473		)
	Liability at March 30, 2014	$	146		$	—		$	—		$	146

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	The following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss and the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax as applicable, for the three months ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013:
			Gains and			Defined			Foreign			Accumulated
			Losses on Cash			Benefit			Currency			Other
			Flow Hedges			Pension Items			Items			Comprehensive
												Loss
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	(262	)	$	(333,106	)	$	(25,152	)	$	(358,520	)
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications		1,350			—			(7,359		)	(6,009		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income		(1,125		)	4,174			—			3,049
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to fixed assets		11			—			—			11
	Net current-period other comprehensive		236			4,174			(7,359		)	(2,949		)
	income/(loss)
	Balance at March 30, 2014		$	(26	)	$	(328,932	)	$	(32,511	)	$	(361,469	)
	Balance at December 31, 2012		$	(6,727	)	$	(472,333	)	$	3,234		$	(475,826	)
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications		3,576			—			(19,609		)	(16,033		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income		1,009			6,486			—			7,495
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to fixed assets		75			—			—			75
	Net current-period other comprehensive		4,660			6,486			(19,609		)	(8,463		)
	income/(loss)
	Balance at March 31, 2013		$	(2,067	)	$	(465,847	)	$	(16,375	)	$	(484,289	)
Effects on Net Income of Significant Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	The following table summarizes the effects on net income of significant amounts classified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013:
			Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive		Three months ended March 30, 2014			Three months ended March 31, 2013			Affected Line Item in the
	Loss Components								Condensed Consolidated
									Statements of Net  Income
	Gains and losses on cash flow hedges
	Foreign exchange contracts		$	(999	)	$	444		Net sales
	Foreign exchange contracts		1,862			(403		)	Cost of sales
	Commodity contracts		717			(1,656		)	Cost of sales
			1,580			(1,615		)	Total before tax
			(455		)	606			Tax (provision)/benefit
			$	1,125		$	(1,009	)	Net of tax
	Defined benefit pension items
	Amortization of defined benefit pension items(a)		$	(4,667	)	$	(7,645	)	Cost of sales
	Amortization of defined benefit pension items(a)		(1,556		)	(2,548		)	Selling, general and
									administrative
			(6,223		)	(10,193		)	Total before tax
			2,049			3,707			Tax benefit
			$	(4,174	)	$	(6,486	)	Net of tax
	Total reclassifications for the period		$	(3,049	)	$	(7,495	)	Net of tax
	(a)	See Note 9 for additional details.

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Changes in Goodwill by Segment	'
	A summary of the changes in goodwill by segment for the three months ended March 30, 2014 is as follows:
		Consumer			Display			Paper and			Protective		Total
		Packaging			and			Industrial			Solutions
					Packaging			Converted
								Products
	Goodwill at December 31, 2013	$	418,765		$	204,629		$	254,648		$	221,165	$	1,099,207
	Foreign currency translation	(3,952		)	—			(41		)	—		(3,993		)
	Goodwill at March 30, 2014	$	414,813		$	204,629		$	254,607		$	221,165	$	1,095,214
Summary of Other Intangible Assets	'
	A summary of other intangible assets as of March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		March 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Other Intangible Assets, gross
	Patents	$	2,219		$	2,221
	Customer lists	338,980			339,911
	Trade names	21,214			21,232
	Proprietary technology	17,866			17,866
	Land use rights	330			323
	Other	4,711			4,731
	Other Intangible Assets, gross	$	385,320		$	386,284
	Accumulated Amortization	$	(148,776	)	$	(142,364	)
	Other Intangible Assets, net	$	236,544		$	243,920

Financial_Instruments_and_Deri1

Financial Instruments and Derivatives (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Carrying Amounts and Fair Values of Financial Instruments	'
	The following table sets forth the carrying amounts and fair values of the Company’s significant financial instruments for which the carrying amount differs from the fair value.
			March 30, 2014								December 31, 2013
			Carrying				Fair				Carrying			Fair
			Amount				Value				Amount			Value
	Long-term debt, net of current portion		$	946,512			$	1,032,366			$	946,257		$	999,247
Net Positions of Foreign Contracts	'
	The Company has entered into forward contracts to hedge certain anticipated foreign currency denominated sales and purchases forecast to occur in 2014. The net positions of these contracts at March 30, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):
	Currency	Action	Quantity
	Colombian peso	purchase	11,127,713
	Mexican peso	purchase	204,153
	Canadian dollar	purchase	39,897
	Turkish lira	purchase	4,998
	British pound	purchase	3,545
	Polish zloty	purchase	1,993
	New Zealand dollar	sell	(3,123	)
	Euro	sell	(4,644	)
	Australian dollar	sell	(4,734	)
	Russian ruble	sell	(31,843	)
Net Positions of Other Derivatives Contract	'
	The net positions of these contracts at March 30, 2014, were as follows (in thousands):
	Currency	Action	Quantity
	Colombian peso	purchase	14,962,012
	Mexican peso	purchase	308,869
	Canadian dollar	purchase	14,344
	Euro	purchase	9,424
	Thai baht	sell	(194,730	)
Location and Fair Values of Derivative Instruments	'
	The following table sets forth the location and fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments at March 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	Description		Balance Sheet Location		March 30,				December 31,
					2014				2013
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Commodity Contracts		Prepaid expenses		$	1,360			$	535
	Commodity Contracts		Other assets		$	528			$	363
	Commodity Contracts		Accrued expenses and other		$	(239	)		$	(1,228	)
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		Prepaid expenses		$	659			$	896
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		Accrued expenses and other		$	(2,384	)		$	(993	)
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		Prepaid expenses		$	546			$	468
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		Accrued expenses and other		$	(38	)		$	(53	)
Effect of Derivative Instruments on Financial Performance	'
	Derivatives not designated as hedging
	instruments:
	The following tables set forth the effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on financial performance for the three months ended March 30, 2014 and March 31, 2013:
	Description		Amount of Gain or				Location of Gain		Amount of Gain or				Location of Gain	Amount of Gain
			(Loss) Recognized				or (Loss)		(Loss) Reclassified				or (Loss)	or (Loss) Recognized
			in OCI on				Reclassified from		from Accumulated				Recognized in	in Income on
			Derivative				Accumulated OCI		OCI Into Income				Income on	Derivative
			(Effective Portion)				Into Income		(Effective Portion)				Derivative	(Ineffective
							(Effective Portion)						(Ineffective Portion)	Portion)
	Three months ended March 30, 2014
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		$	(776	)		Net sales		$	(999	)		Net sales	$	—
							Cost of sales		$	1,862
	Commodity Contracts		$	2,676			Cost of sales		$	717			Cost of sales	$	(20	)
	Three months ended March 31, 2013
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
	Foreign Exchange Contracts		$	4,256			Net sales		$	444			Net sales	$	—
							Cost of sales		$	(403	)
	Commodity Contracts		$	1,738			Cost of sales		$	(1,656	)		Cost of sales	$	(127	)
	Derivatives not designated as hedging	Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in	Gain or (Loss)
	instruments:	Income Statement	Recognized
	Three months ended March 30, 2014
	Foreign Exchange Contracts	Cost of sales	$	37
		Selling, general and administrative	$	56
	Three months ended March 31, 2013
	Foreign Exchange Contracts	Cost of sales	$	(196	)
		Selling, general and administrative	$	(11	)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'
	The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities, excluding retirement and postretirement plan assets, measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
	Description	March 30,			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
		2014
	Hedge derivatives, net:
	Commodity contracts	$	1,649		$	—	$	1,649		$	—
	Foreign exchange contracts	(1,725		)	—		(1,725		)	—
	Non-hedge derivatives, net:
	Foreign exchange contracts	508			—		508			—
	Deferred compensation plan assets	863			863		—			—
	Description	December 31,			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3
		2013
	Hedge derivatives, net:
	Commodity contracts	$	(330	)	$	—	$	(330	)	$	—
	Foreign exchange contracts	(97		)	—		(97		)	—
	Non-hedge derivatives, net:
	Foreign exchange contracts	415			—		415			—
	Deferred compensation plan assets	859			859		—			—

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	'
	The components of net periodic benefit cost include the following:
		Three Months Ended
		March 30,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Retirement Plans
	Service cost	$	5,167		$	6,135
	Interest cost	17,897			16,604
	Expected return on plan assets	(22,753		)	(21,392		)
	Amortization of net transition obligation	99			110
	Amortization of prior service cost	163			103
	Amortization of net actuarial loss	6,302			10,713
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	6,875		$	12,273
	Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
	Service cost	$	173		$	222
	Interest cost	257			244
	Expected return on plan assets	(387		)	(371		)
	Amortization of prior service credit	(337		)	(733		)
	Amortization of net actuarial loss	(24		)	(1		)
	Net periodic benefit income	$	(318	)	$	(639	)

Segment_Reporting_Tables

Segment Reporting (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Financial Information	'
	SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
		Three Months Ended
		March 30,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Net sales:
	Consumer Packaging	$	464,925		$	463,300
	Display and Packaging	153,022			144,575
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	455,610			454,207
	Protective Solutions	112,069			117,131
	Consolidated	$	1,185,626		$	1,179,213
	Intersegment sales:
	Consumer Packaging	$	1,033		$	1,359
	Display and Packaging	383			655
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	26,345			23,455
	Protective Solutions	566			673
	Consolidated	$	28,327		$	26,142
	Income before interest and income taxes:
	Segment operating profit:
	Consumer Packaging	$	48,183		$	42,340
	Display and Packaging	5,357			3,503
	Paper and Industrial Converted Products	29,750			31,004
	Protective Solutions	5,287			9,724
	Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	(1,992		)	(4,289		)
	Other, net	(24		)	(866		)
	Consolidated	$	86,561		$	81,416

Shareholders_Equity_Earnings_P

Shareholders' Equity - Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Numerator:	'	'
Net income attributable to Sonoco	$52,302	$48,139
Denominator:	'	'
Basic (in shares)	102,771	102,273
Dilutive effect of stock-based compensation (in shares)	996	541
Diluted (in shares)	103,767	102,814
Reported net income attributable to Sonoco per common share:	'	'
Basic (in usd per share)	$0.51	$0.47
Diluted (in usd per share)	$0.50	$0.47

Shareholders_Equity_Additional

Shareholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 16, 2014
				Tax Withholding Obligations [Member]	Tax Withholding Obligations [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of securities excluded from computation of dilutive earning per share	643,827	2,182,261	'	'	'	'
Number of shares authorized for repurchase	5,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Number of shares available for repurchase	4,659,500	'	'	'	'	'
Number of shares repurchased	208,000	'	132,500	48,581	56,016	'
Cost of shares repurchased	$8,635	'	'	$2,043	$1,689	'
Dividend declared date	12-Feb-14	'	'	'	'	16-Apr-14
Dividend declared and payable (in usd per share)	$0.31	'	'	'	'	$0.32
Dividend payable date of record	26-Feb-14	'	'	'	'	16-May-14
Dividend payable date	10-Mar-14	'	'	'	'	10-Jun-14

Restructuring_and_Asset_Impair2

Restructuring and Asset Impairment - Restructuring and Asset Impairment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	$1,992	$4,289
Income tax benefit	-411	-1,283
Costs attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	-4	27
Total impact of restructuring/asset impairment charges, net of tax	1,577	3,033
2014 Actions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	1,399	'
2013 Actions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	1,275	1,316
2012 and Earlier Actions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	($682)	$2,973

Restructuring_and_Asset_Impair3

Restructuring and Asset Impairment - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Expected future charges associated with previous restructuring	$2,500	'
2012 and Earlier Actions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Expected future charges associated with previous restructuring	1,000	'
Remaining restructuring accrual	$3,746	$4,547
2013 Actions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Elimination of Positions due to realign in cost structure	'	120
2014 Actions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Elimination of Positions due to realign in cost structure	45	'

Restructuring_and_Asset_Impair4

Restructuring and Asset Impairment - Actions and Related Expenses by Segment and by Type Incurred and Estimated for Given Years (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	$1,992	$4,289
2014 Actions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	1,399	'
Estimated Total Cost	1,449	'
2014 Actions [Member] | Severance and Termination Benefits [Member] | Consumer Packaging [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	650	'
Estimated Total Cost	650	'
2014 Actions [Member] | Severance and Termination Benefits [Member] | Paper and Industrial Converted Products [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	265	'
Estimated Total Cost	315	'
2014 Actions [Member] | Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets [Member] | Paper and Industrial Converted Products [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	473	'
Estimated Total Cost	473	'
2014 Actions [Member] | Other Costs [Member] | Consumer Packaging [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	11	'
Estimated Total Cost	11	'
2013 Actions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	1,275	1,316
Total Incurred to Date	20,096	'
Estimated Total Cost	21,546	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Severance and Termination Benefits [Member] | Consumer Packaging [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	362	435
Total Incurred to Date	5,272	'
Estimated Total Cost	5,772	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Severance and Termination Benefits [Member] | Display and Packaging [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	165	0
Total Incurred to Date	759	'
Estimated Total Cost	909	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Severance and Termination Benefits [Member] | Paper and Industrial Converted Products [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	610	500
Total Incurred to Date	3,957	'
Estimated Total Cost	4,007	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Severance and Termination Benefits [Member] | Protective Solutions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	8	40
Total Incurred to Date	1,034	'
Estimated Total Cost	1,034	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets [Member] | Consumer Packaging [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	0	0
Total Incurred to Date	5,926	'
Estimated Total Cost	5,926	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets [Member] | Display and Packaging [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	0	0
Total Incurred to Date	165	'
Estimated Total Cost	165	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets [Member] | Paper and Industrial Converted Products [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	-542	251
Total Incurred to Date	-50	'
Estimated Total Cost	-50	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets [Member] | Protective Solutions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	-6	0
Total Incurred to Date	656	'
Estimated Total Cost	656	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Other Costs [Member] | Consumer Packaging [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	486	0
Total Incurred to Date	1,507	'
Estimated Total Cost	1,907	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Other Costs [Member] | Display and Packaging [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	90	0
Total Incurred to Date	175	'
Estimated Total Cost	325	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Other Costs [Member] | Paper and Industrial Converted Products [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	53	90
Total Incurred to Date	500	'
Estimated Total Cost	600	'
2013 Actions [Member] | Other Costs [Member] | Protective Solutions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	49	0
Total Incurred to Date	195	'
Estimated Total Cost	295	'
2012 and Earlier Actions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	-682	2,973
2012 and Earlier Actions [Member] | Consumer Packaging [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	-849	808
2012 and Earlier Actions [Member] | Display and Packaging [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	-8	5
2012 and Earlier Actions [Member] | Paper and Industrial Converted Products [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	175	1,163
2012 and Earlier Actions [Member] | Protective Solutions [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment	$0	$997

Restructuring_and_Asset_Impair5

Restructuring and Asset Impairment - Restructuring Accrual Activity for Given Years (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014
2014 Actions [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Liability, Beginning Balance	$0
Current year charges	1,399
Cash receipts/(payments)	-780
Asset write downs/disposals	-473
Liability, Ending Balance	146
2013 Actions [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Liability, Beginning Balance	3,258
Current year charges	1,963
Adjustments	-688
Cash receipts/(payments)	-1,534
Asset write downs/disposals	-221
Liability, Ending Balance	2,778
Severance and Termination Benefits [Member] | 2014 Actions [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Liability, Beginning Balance	0
Current year charges	914
Cash receipts/(payments)	-768
Liability, Ending Balance	146
Severance and Termination Benefits [Member] | 2013 Actions [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Liability, Beginning Balance	3,258
Current year charges	1,184
Adjustments	-40
Cash receipts/(payments)	-1,624
Liability, Ending Balance	2,778
Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets [Member] | 2014 Actions [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Liability, Beginning Balance	0
Current year charges	473
Cash receipts/(payments)	0
Asset write downs/disposals	-473
Liability, Ending Balance	0
Asset Impairment / Disposal of Assets [Member] | 2013 Actions [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Liability, Beginning Balance	0
Current year charges	93
Adjustments	-641
Cash receipts/(payments)	769
Asset write downs/disposals	-221
Other Costs [Member] | 2014 Actions [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Liability, Beginning Balance	0
Current year charges	12
Cash receipts/(payments)	-12
Liability, Ending Balance	0
Other Costs [Member] | 2013 Actions [Member]	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'
Liability, Beginning Balance	0
Current year charges	686
Adjustments	-7
Cash receipts/(payments)	-679
Liability, Ending Balance	$0

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, beginning balance	($358,520)	[1]	($475,826)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	-6,009		-16,033
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	11		'
Net current-period other comprehensive income/ (loss)	-2,949		-8,463
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, ending balance	-361,469		-484,289
Net Income [Member]	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,049		7,495
Fixed Assets [Member]	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	11		75
Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, beginning balance	-262		-6,727
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	1,350		3,576
Net current-period other comprehensive income/ (loss)	236		4,660
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, ending balance	-26		-2,067
Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Net Income [Member]	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	-1,125		1,009
Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Fixed Assets [Member]	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	11		75
Defined Benefit Pension Items [Member]	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, beginning balance	-333,106		-472,333
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	0		0
Net current-period other comprehensive income/ (loss)	4,174		6,486
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, ending balance	-328,932		-465,847
Defined Benefit Pension Items [Member] | Net Income [Member]	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	4,174		6,486
Foreign Currency Items [Member]	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, beginning balance	-25,152		3,234
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	-7,359		-19,609
Net current-period other comprehensive income/ (loss)	-7,359		-19,609
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, ending balance	($32,511)		($16,375)
[1]	The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Effects on Net Income of Significant Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	$1,185,626	$1,179,213
Cost of sales	-973,323	-973,497
Selling, general and administrative	-123,750	-120,011
Income before income taxes	73,918	67,148
Tax benefit	-23,169	-21,252
Net of tax	50,749	45,896
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'
Net of tax	-3,049	-7,495
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'
Income before income taxes	1,580	-1,615
Tax benefit	-455	606
Net of tax	1,125	-1,009
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	-999	444
Cost of sales	1,862	-403
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member]	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'
Cost of sales	717	-1,656
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Defined Benefit Pension Items [Member]	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'
Cost of sales	-4,667	-7,645
Selling, general and administrative	-1,556	-2,548
Income before income taxes	-6,223	-10,193
Tax benefit	2,049	3,707
Net of tax	($4,174)	($6,486)

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv4

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unfavorable position amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to cash flow hedges	$96	'	$427
Accumulated other comprehensive income loss cumulative changes in net gain loss from cash flow hedge effect after tax	26	'	262
Deferred Tax Assets, Derivative Instruments	70	'	165
Increase (decrease) in tax benefit on Cash Flow Hedges	-95	'	'
Cumulative tax benefit on Defined Benefit Pensions	187,619	'	189,668
Increase (decrease) in tax benefit on Defined Benefit Pensions	-2,049	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-119	-294	'
Non-Controlling Interests [Member]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	($119)	'	'

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Changes in Goodwill by Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Goodwill, beginning balance	$1,099,207	[1]
Foreign currency translation	-3,993
Goodwill, ending balance	1,095,214
Consumer Packaging [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Goodwill, beginning balance	418,765
Foreign currency translation	-3,952
Goodwill, ending balance	414,813
Paper and Industrial Converted Products [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Goodwill, beginning balance	254,648
Foreign currency translation	-41
Goodwill, ending balance	254,607
Display and Packaging [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Goodwill, beginning balance	204,629
Foreign currency translation	0
Goodwill, ending balance	204,629
Protective Solutions [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Goodwill, beginning balance	221,165
Foreign currency translation	0
Goodwill, ending balance	$221,165
[1]	The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_3

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	$1,095,214	'	$1,099,207	[1]
Aggregate amortization expenses	6,863	7,175	'
Amortization expense on other intangible assets in 2014	27,800	'	'
Amortization expense on other intangible assets in 2015	26,300	'	'
Amortization expense on other intangible assets in 2016	26,000	'	'
Amortization expense on other intangible assets in 2017	25,700	'	'
Amortization expense on other intangible assets in 2018	25,300	'	'
Blowmolding [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	124,800	'	'
Thermoforming [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	53,200	'	'
Display and Packaging [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	204,629	'	204,629
Display and Packaging [Member] | Display and Packaging Reporting Unit [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	$196,700	'	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Useful lives of other intangible assets	'3 years	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Useful lives of other intangible assets	'40 years	'	'
[1]	The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_4

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Summary of Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Intangible Assets, Gross:	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, gross	$385,320	$386,284
Accumulated Amortization	-148,776	-142,364
Other Intangible Assets, net	236,544	243,920	[1]
Patents [Member]	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, Gross:	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, gross	2,219	2,221
Customer Lists [Member]	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, Gross:	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, gross	338,980	339,911
Trade Names [Member]	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, Gross:	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, gross	21,214	21,232
Proprietary Technology [Member]	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, Gross:	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, gross	17,866	17,866
Land Use Rights [Member]	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, Gross:	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, gross	330	323
Other [Member]	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, Gross:	'	'
Other Intangible Assets, gross	$4,711	$4,731
[1]	The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Financial_Instruments_and_Deri2

Financial Instruments and Derivatives - Carrying Amount and Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Long-term debt, net of current portion, Carrying Amount	$946,512	$946,257	[1]
Long-term debt, net of current portion, Fair Value	$1,032,366	$999,247
[1]	The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Financial_Instruments_and_Deri3

Financial Instruments and Derivatives - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of commodity cash flow hedges	$1,649	($330)
Commodity gain (loss) expected to be reclassified to the income statement during the next 12 months	1,106	'
Fair value of foreign currency cash flow hedges	-1,725	-97
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	11	'
Foreign currency gain (loss) expected to be reclassified to the income statement during the next 12 months	-1,754	'
Total fair value of other derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	$508	$415
Natural Gas Swaps [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Approximate amount of commodity covered by swap contracts outstanding	5,500,000	'
Anticipated usage percentage covered by a swap contract for the current fiscal year	75.00%	'
Anticipated usage percentage covered by a swap contract for the second succeeding fiscal year	56.00%	'
Aluminum Swaps [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Anticipated usage percentage covered by a swap contract for the current fiscal year	34.00%	'
Approximate amount of commodity covered by swap contracts outstanding	4,712	'

Financial_Instruments_and_Deri4

Financial Instruments and Derivatives - Net Positions of Foreign Contracts (Details) (Cash Flow Hedging [Member])	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	USD ($)	AUD	CAD	COP	EUR (€)	GBP (£)	MXN	NZD	PLN	TRY
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Purchase / (Sales) position of foreign currency cash flow hedges	($31,843)	-4,734	39,897	11,127,713	-€ 4,644	£ 3,545	204,153	-3,123	1,993	4,998

Financial_Instruments_and_Deri5

Financial Instruments and Derivatives - Net Positions of Other Derivatives Contract (Details) (Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member])	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	CAD	COP	EUR (€)	MXN	THB
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Net Purchase / (Sales) position of other derivatives	14,344	14,962,012	€ 9,424	308,869	-194,730

Financial_Instruments_and_Deri6

Financial Instruments and Derivatives - Location and Fair Values of Derivative Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member] | Prepaid Expenses [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives instruments, assets	$1,360	$535
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member] | Other Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives instruments, assets	528	363
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member] | Accrued Expenses and Other [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives instruments, liabilities	-239	-1,228
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Prepaid Expenses [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives instruments, assets	659	896
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Accrued Expenses and Other [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives instruments, liabilities	-2,384	-993
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Prepaid Expenses [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives instruments, assets	546	468
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Accrued Expenses and Other [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives instruments, liabilities	($38)	($53)

Financial_Instruments_and_Deri7

Financial Instruments and Derivatives - Effect of Derivative Instruments on Financial Performance (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	($776)	$4,256
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Net Sales [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)	-999	444
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)	0	0
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)	1,862	-403
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member] | Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Gain or (Loss) Recognized	37	-196
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative [Member] | Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Gain or (Loss) Recognized	56	-11
Commodity Contracts [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	2,676	1,738
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI Into Income (Effective Portion)	717	-1,656
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)	($20)	($127)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Assets

Fair Value Measurements - Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred compensation plan assets	$863	$859
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	1,649	-330
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	-1,725	-97
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	508	415
Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred compensation plan assets	863	859
Level 1 [Member] | Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	0	0
Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred compensation plan assets	0	0
Level 2 [Member] | Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	1,649	-330
Level 2 [Member] | Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	-1,725	-97
Level 2 [Member] | Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	508	415
Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred compensation plan assets	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives	$0	$0

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Compone

Employee Benefit Plans - Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Retirement Plans [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Service cost	$5,167	$6,135
Interest cost	17,897	16,604
Expected return on plan assets	-22,753	-21,392
Amortization of net transition obligation	99	110
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	163	103
Amortization of net actuarial loss	6,302	10,713
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	6,875	12,273
Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Service cost	173	222
Interest cost	257	244
Expected return on plan assets	-387	-371
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	-337	-733
Amortization of net actuarial loss	-24	-1
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	($318)	($639)

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Additio

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Contribution to defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans	$43,515,000	$15,486,000
Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Contribution to defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans	31,466,000	6,196,000
Projected contributions to retirement plan	22,000,000	'
Sonoco Investment and Retirement Plan [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Contribution to defined benefit retirement and retiree health and life insurance plans	12,049,000	9,290,000
Projected contributions to retirement plan	0	'
Recognized expense related to the plan	$2,556,000	$2,081,000

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Effective tax rate	31.30%	31.60%

Segment_Reporting_Additional_I

Segment Reporting - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014
	Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Number of reportable segment	4

Segment_Reporting_Segment_Fina

Segment Reporting - Segment Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	$1,185,626	$1,179,213
Income before interest and income taxes	86,561	81,416
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	-1,992	-4,289
Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	1,185,626	1,179,213
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer Packaging [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	464,925	463,300
Income before interest and income taxes	48,183	42,340
Operating Segments [Member] | Paper and Industrial Converted Products [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	455,610	454,207
Income before interest and income taxes	29,750	31,004
Operating Segments [Member] | Display and Packaging [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	153,022	144,575
Income before interest and income taxes	5,357	3,503
Operating Segments [Member] | Protective Solutions [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	112,069	117,131
Income before interest and income taxes	5,287	9,724
Intersegment Sales [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	28,327	26,142
Intersegment Sales [Member] | Consumer Packaging [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	1,033	1,359
Intersegment Sales [Member] | Paper and Industrial Converted Products [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	26,345	23,455
Intersegment Sales [Member] | Display and Packaging [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	383	655
Intersegment Sales [Member] | Protective Solutions [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	566	673
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	-1,992	-4,289
Other, net	($24)	($866)

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2008	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Nov. 08, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			U.S. Mills [Member]	U.S. Mills [Member]	U.S. Mills [Member]	U.S. Mills [Member]	U.S. Mills [Member]	U.S. Mills [Member]	Tegrant Holding Corporation [Member]	Tegrant Holding Corporation [Member]	Tegrant Holding Corporation [Member]
			Insurance_Carriers			Hotspot [Member]	Hotspot [Member]	Operating Units 2 - 5 [Member]
Site Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Portion of Hotspot remediation to be funded by U.S. Mills	'	'	'	'	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Environmental remediation expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	$17,650	$60,825	'	'	'
Environmental remediation spent	'	'	'	'	'	'	14,467	11,880	'	'	'
Environmental accrual	72,889	73,032	52,128	'	52,124	3,183	3,183	48,945	18,337	18,429	18,850
Environmental contingencies future related cost, high estimate	'	'	94,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of remaining insurance carriers in liquidation	'	'	2	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Recognized environmental loss contingencies settlements from insurance policies	'	'	'	$40,825	'	'	'	'	'	'	'