XML 96 R58.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015		Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 Derivative
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Realized losses on interest rate derivatives related to statement of operations		$ 200,000gef_GainLossOnFairValueInterestRateDerivatives	$ 200,000gef_GainLossOnFairValueInterestRateDerivatives		$ 400,000gef_GainLossOnFairValueInterestRateDerivatives
Other comprehensive losses on interest rate derivatives						200,000us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
(Gains) losses recorded under fair value contracts	1,200,000us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives	(2,000,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives	6,800,000us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives		200,000us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives
Recognized asset impairment charges	4,500,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse		4,700,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse		200,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
Goodwill impairment charge			500,000us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Recognized asset impairment charges	4,200,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
Recognized amount of additional impairment related to assets and liabilities held for sale			0us-gaap_ImpairmentChargeOnReclassifiedAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember		0us-gaap_ImpairmentChargeOnReclassifiedAssets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
Goodwill impairment charge			500,000us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember	[1]		0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Interest rate swap agreements maturity year			2014
Notional amount							150,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Derivative number of instruments held							2us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 92,900,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember		$ 92,900,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember			$ 122,400,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
[1] At April 30, 2015 and October 31, 2014, the accumulated goodwill impairment loss was $0.5 million and $0.0 million, respectively.

X

- Definition

Derivative maturity year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gef_DerivativeMaturityYear
Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Gain loss on fair value interest rate derivatives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gef_GainLossOnFairValueInterestRateDerivatives
Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The number of derivative instruments of a particular group held by the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5580258-113959



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from the increase (decrease) in fair value of foreign currency derivatives and nonderivative instruments designated as fair value hedging instruments which were recognized in earnings, net of offsets by the gain (loss) on the hedged item to the extent that the fair value hedge was determined to be effective.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4A

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5618551-113959



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13854-109267



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13777-109266



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

For the asset that is reclassified back to held and used from held-for-sale, the amount of impairment charge that is recognized on the reclassification date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2459-110228



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 44

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29634951&loc=d3e1756-110224

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentChargeOnReclassifiedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2420-110228



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 958

-SubTopic 225

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28367520&loc=d3e92212-112881



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Impairment

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515133

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) related to the increase or decrease in fair value of interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments, which was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income to the extent that the cash flow hedge was determined to be effective.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: