XML 67 R50.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Acquisitions and Divestitures - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2017 deconsolidation | Jan. 31, 2017 deconsolidation | Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($) Divestiture | Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($) Divestiture | Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) liquidation deconsolidation Divestiture Acquisition | Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) deconsolidation Divestiture Acquisition | Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($) Divestiture Acquisition | May 23, 2005 USD ($) | Mar. 28, 2005 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of divestitures (business) | Divestiture |  |  |  |  | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 8 |  |
Number of acquisitions (acquisition) | Acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 |  |
Number of deconsolidations | deconsolidation |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 | 1 |  |  |
Number of subsidiaries liquidated | liquidation |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on disposal of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (1.7) | $ (14.5) | $ (9.2) |  |
Proceeds from divestiture and deconsolidation |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.1 | 24.1 |  |  |
Notes receivables related to sale of business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.9 | $ 51.0 | $ 90.0
Gain (Loss) on sale of business | $ 3.9 |  |  | $ (18.6) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestitures |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5.9 | 23.8 | $ 19.6 |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivable term |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 months |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivable term |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14 months |  | 5 years |  |
Notes Receivable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivables related to sale of business | $ 4.3 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4.3 |  |  |  |
2015 Divestiture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture and deconsolidation |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.8 |  |  |  |
2016 Divestiture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivables related to sale of business |  |  |  |  | $ 2.4 | $ 2.4 |  |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on sale of business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3.6) |  |  |
Deconsolidation of Earthminded Benelux, NV |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivables related to sale of business |  |  |  | 0.3 |  |  |  | 0.3 |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on sale of business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18.1 |  |  |
Ownership percent sold of Earthminded Benelux, NV |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 51.00% |  |  |
Fair value of retained noncontrolling interest |  |  |  | 0.3 |  |  |  | $ 0.3 |  |  |
Carrying value of former subsidiary net assets |  |  |  | $ 18.7 |  |  |  | $ 18.7 |  |  |
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of divestitures (business) | Divestiture |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 | 3 | 6 |  |
Number of deconsolidations | deconsolidation |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of subsidiaries liquidated | liquidation |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Flexible Products & Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of divestitures (business) | Divestiture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 | 2 |  |
Number of deconsolidations | deconsolidation |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Deconsolidation, Number of Businesses, Nonstrategic + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_DeconsolidationNumberofBusinessesNonstrategic
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Notes Receivable Term + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNotesReceivableTerm
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of divestitures. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_NumberOfDivestitures
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Subsidiaries Liquidated + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_NumberOfSubsidiariesLiquidated
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Ownership Percentage Sold + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_VariableInterestEntityQualitativeorQuantitativeInformationOwnershipPercentageSold
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of consideration received or receivable for the disposal of assets and liabilities, including discontinued operation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationConsideration
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75031198&loc=d3e14064-108612 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721683-107760 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33912-111571 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(g)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the entity's ownership percentage in the investee multiplied by the investee's total equity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentUnderlyingEquityInNetAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets, including but not limited to property plant and equipment, intangible assets and equity in securities of subsidiaries or equity method investee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2443-110228 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3179-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash inflow associated with the deconsolidation of a previously consolidated subsidiary or sale of an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3179-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=gef_A2015DivestitureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=gef_TwoThousandSixteenDivestituresMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=gef_DeconsolidationofEarthmindedBeneluxNVMember
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: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gef_FlexibleProductsAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |