Definol® Adhesives: Borax-Free, Exempt from the New EU Labeling Requirement
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Since June, products containing liquid borax have been required to be labeled in the EU. Crespel & Deiters offers high-performance adhesives that do not contain boron compounds subject to labeling requirements, as well as the completely boron-free “Zerobor” line.
All Definol® high-performance adhesives from Crespel & Deiters for the EU market are free of borax. This means they can be used without additional labeling, documentation, or training, even after the new labeling requirement for boron ethanolamine takes effect. For high-speed systems, the borax-free Definol® product line offers a solution with no speed limitations. Those seeking completely boron-free adhesives will find an alternative in the Zerobor range.
The EU is continuously tightening the rules for labeling boron compounds, which are highly irritating and considered toxic to reproduction. Starting in mid-2026, boron ethanolamine will also be subject to the labeling requirement. For corrugated cardboard manufacturers, however, each new labeling requirement increases operational burdens: safety data sheets must be updated, processes must be redocumented, and employees must be trained accordingly.
“The tightening of regulations in the EU highlights the importance of proactive raw material management,” says Dirk Köllmeier, Head of Sales Industrial Solutions at Crespel & Deiters. “We have consistently avoided using borax in our Definol® portfolio for several years now, which gives our customers planning certainty.”
Definol® uses alternative boron compounds. These compounds temporarily cross-link the starch and determine how quickly the adhesive sets. In the prepared adhesive, they perform the same function as borax and replicate its properties. For corrugated cardboard manufacturers using Definol® products, this currently means: no new labeling requirements, no additional effort for documentation or training, and no loss of speed or bonding performance.
However, “borax-free” is not the same as “boron-free.” Some adhesives contain boron compounds that are currently classified as less critical. Corrugated cardboard manufacturers who wish to use completely boron-free adhesives will find suitable solutions in the Zerobor range from Crespel & Deiters, which is suitable for production speeds of up to approximately 200 meters per minute.
