<PAGE>
                               PACTIV CORPORATION

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned does hereby appoint James V. Faulkner, Jr., as his
true and lawful attorney, to execute in his name, place and stead, the Pactiv
Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
any and all amendments to said Annual Report on Form 10-K, and instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Such attorney shall have the power to act
hereunder and shall have full power and authority to do and perform, in the
name on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, every act
whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to
all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, the
undersigned hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorney.

         IN TESTIMONY THEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument
this 28th day of February, 2004.


                                             /s/ Larry D. Brady
                                             ------------------------------
                                             Larry D. Brady
<PAGE>
                               PACTIV CORPORATION

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned does hereby appoint James V. Faulkner, Jr., as his
true and lawful attorney, to execute in his name, place and stead, the Pactiv
Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
any and all amendments to said Annual Report on Form 10-K, and instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Such attorney shall have the power to act
hereunder and shall have full power and authority to do and perform, in the
name on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, every act
whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to
all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, the
undersigned hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorney.

         IN TESTIMONY THEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument
this 28th day of February, 2004.


                                             /s/ K. Dane Brooksher
                                             ------------------------------
                                             K. Dane Brooksher
<PAGE>
                               PACTIV CORPORATION

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned does hereby appoint James V. Faulkner, Jr., as his
true and lawful attorney, to execute in his name, place and stead, the Pactiv
Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
any and all amendments to said Annual Report on Form 10-K, and instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Such attorney shall have the power to act
hereunder and shall have full power and authority to do and perform, in the
name on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, every act
whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to
all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, the
undersigned hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorney.

         IN TESTIMONY THEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument
this 28th day of February, 2004.


                                             /s/ Robert J. Darnall
                                             ------------------------------
                                             Robert J. Darnall
<PAGE>
                               PACTIV CORPORATION

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned does hereby appoint James V. Faulkner, Jr., as his
true and lawful attorney, to execute in his name, place and stead, the Pactiv
Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
any and all amendments to said Annual Report on Form 10-K, and instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Such attorney shall have the power to act
hereunder and shall have full power and authority to do and perform, in the
name on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, every act
whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to
all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, the
undersigned hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorney.

         IN TESTIMONY THEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument
this 28th day of February, 2004.


                                             /s/ Mary R. (Nina) Henderson
                                             ------------------------------
                                             Mary R. (Nina) Henderson
<PAGE>
                               PACTIV CORPORATION

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned does hereby appoint James V. Faulkner, Jr., as his
true and lawful attorney, to execute in his name, place and stead, the Pactiv
Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
any and all amendments to said Annual Report on Form 10-K, and instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Such attorney shall have the power to act
hereunder and shall have full power and authority to do and perform, in the
name on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, every act
whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to
all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, the
undersigned hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorney.

         IN TESTIMONY THEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument
this 28th day of February, 2004.


                                             /s/ Roger B. Porter
                                             ------------------------------
                                             Roger B. Porter
<PAGE>
                               PACTIV CORPORATION

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned does hereby appoint James V. Faulkner, Jr., as his
true and lawful attorney, to execute in his name, place and stead, the Pactiv
Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
any and all amendments to said Annual Report on Form 10-K, and instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Such attorney shall have the power to act
hereunder and shall have full power and authority to do and perform, in the
name on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, every act
whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully and to
all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, the
undersigned hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorney.

         IN TESTIMONY THEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument
this 28th day of February, 2004.


                                             /s/ Norman H. Wesley
                                             ------------------------------
                                             Norman H. Wesley