Crespel & Deiters shields corrugated manufacturers from new EU boron labeling rules

The European Union’s relentless tightening of chemical classifications has placed a new administrative burden on corrugated board manufacturers, but starch and protein specialist Crespel & Deiters has positioned its adhesive portfolio to bypass the red tape. Following the latest updates to the EU’s Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation, the company has confirmed that its Definol and Zerobor adhesive ranges remain exempt from the new hazard documentation requirements targeting boron compounds.

Borax and its derivatives have long been the standard tackifiers in starch-based corrugating adhesives, dictating gel points and bond flexibility. However, the regulatory landscape shifted when the EU reclassified specific boron compounds, including boron ethanolamine, as severe irritants and reproductive toxins. For packaging producers, this reclassification triggers a cascade of compliance tasks, including mandatory updates to safety data sheets, revised hazard labeling on the factory floor, and additional safety training for plant personnel.

Formulating around the regulatory bottleneck

To shield corrugators from these operational disruptions, Crespel & Deiters has engineered the Definol high-performance range to be entirely borax-free. While the formulation still utilizes alternative, non-restricted boron compounds to temporarily cross-link the starch and control setting speeds, it falls completely outside the scope of the new CLP labeling mandates. This allows manufacturers to maintain current production parameters without absorbing the cost of chemical compliance overhauls.

For plants looking to eliminate boron entirely from their chemistry, the company’s Zerobor line provides a fully boron-free alternative. Crucially for high-volume operations, this formulation does not force a compromise on machine speeds. The Zerobor adhesives are validated for high-speed corrugators, maintaining stable viscosity and green bond formation at operating speeds of up to 200 meters per minute.

Operational continuity in a strict chemical landscape

The transition away from traditional borax formulations reflects a broader industry push toward safer chemical profiles in food-contact and transit packaging. By removing the regulatory friction associated with the new EU mandates, Crespel & Deiters allows corrugated board producers to focus on machine efficiency and output rather than administrative compliance. As chemical scrutiny intensifies across the European manufacturing sector, drop-in adhesive solutions that maintain high-speed performance while sidestepping hazard classifications are becoming a critical asset for plant managers.