INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION Operating Profit by Industry Segment (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2017
Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]        
Operating profit $ 707 $ 613 $ 1,264 $ 1,737
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings 503 373 718 676
Interest expense, net (152) (132) (431) (384)
Noncontrolling interests/equity earnings adjustment (j) [1] 0 1 (1) 1
Corporate items, net 19 11 34 57
Special items, net 0 54 (16) 46
Non-operating pension expense 33 42 [2] 98 573 [2]
Segment Reconciling Items        
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]        
Interest expense, net 152 [3] 132 431 [3] 384
Industrial Packaging        
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]        
Operating profit 469 [4] 423 [5] 884 [4] 1,277 [5]
Global Cellulose Fibers        
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]        
Operating profit 49 [6] (38) [7] (14) [6] (109) [7]
Printing Papers        
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]        
Operating profit 135 [8] 167 321 [8] 419
Consumer Packaging        
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]        
Operating profit $ 54 [9] $ 61 $ 73 [9] $ 150 [10]
[1] Operating profits for business segments include each segment's percentage share of the profits of subsidiaries included in that segment that are less than wholly owned. The pre-tax noncontrolling interest and equity earnings for these subsidiaries are adjusted here to present consolidated earnings before income taxes and equity earnings.
[2] Includes a charge of $439 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 for a settlement accounting charge associated with term-vested lump sum payments.
[3] Includes a gain of $4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 for interest income associated with an income tax refund claim.
[4] Includes a charge of $354 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to the agreement to settle the Kleen Products anti-trust class action lawsuit, a charge of $10 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017 for the accelerated amortization of an intangible asset in Brazil, a gain of $6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 for a net bargain purchase gain associated with the June 2016 acquisition of Holmen Paper's newsprint mill in Madrid, Spain, and charges of $5 million and $9 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, for other items.
[5] Includes charges of $5 million and $70 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, for the impairment of the assets of our corrugated packaging business in Asia and costs associated with the sale of that business.
[6] Includes charges of $6 million and $15 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, for costs associated with the acquisition of the pulp business acquired in December 2016, a charge of $14 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 for the amortization of the inventory fair value step-up for that business and charges of $2 million and $3 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, for other items.
[7] Includes charges of $7 million and $12 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, for costs associated with the agreement to purchase the Weyerhaeuser pulp business.
[8] Includes a charge of $2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 for other items.
[9] Includes a charge of $9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 for the impairment of the assets of our Foodservice business in Asia.
[10] Includes a charge of $9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 for costs associated with the Riegelwood conversion to 100% pulp production.