In its 2009 first quarter report, the company said it would "continue to ensure that only legally sourced fibres are used as raw materials for its pulp mills" through a plantation-management system and PEFC chain-of-custody at its production sites in China, 10 of which are already PEFC-accredited.

For the remainder of 2009, APP-China has committed to consume no more than 28 tonnes of water per tonne of pulp produced, and to maintain an average wastewater discharge level not in excess of 17 tonnes per tonne of pulp.

For paper production, it has committed to consume no more than 10 tonnes of water per tonne of paper produced, which it said is two tonnes lower than the international average.

Stuart Andrews, APP sustainability and stakeholder outreach manager, Europe, said the brochure helped to highlight APP-China's ‘green' aims in the country by "defining the scope of APP's sustainable development and commitment to China".

Its publication follows reports from conservation groups alleging that APP planned to illegally log in a national forest in Indonesia - something APP has strenuously denied. 

In the UK, Paperlinx merchants PaperCo and Howard Smith defended their decision to use paper made by the controversial manufacturer.

However, other UK merchants have refused to be associated with the company on account of its alleged environmental record.