Forbo Bonding Systems confirms that it has eliminated borax from its entire range of swift®tak casein bottle labelling adhesives. Forbo has acted swiftly following on from the EU Dangerous Substances Directive and the subsequent reclassification of boric acid and borax components in the 30th Adaptation to Technical Progress (ATP) of Council Directive 67/548/EEC on the classification, labelling of dangerous substances with effect from 1st December 2010. All of the swift®tak products have been reformulated. These reformulated products have been running at customers for several months and have demonstrated the same high levels of performance and economy customers have come to expect from swift®tak adhesives.
Borax has traditionally been used in small quantities in some labelling formulations and would be unlikely to represent a hazard to users. However, Forbo took this decision for the peace of mind of its customers and own manufacturing staff.
Forbo Bonding Systems was one of the pioneers in synthetic labelling adhesives that are capable of replacing casein-based adhesives and now supplies a comprehensive range of labelling products under the swift®tak brand, which includes products based on natural, synthetic and hybrid technologies.