DMF-free desiccants for footwear, bags and leather goods destined for regulated export markets.
The context
Leather is organic, and organic materials in a humid sealed container grow mould. The leather industry also carries a specific compliance history: dimethyl fumarate in desiccant sachets caused documented consumer harm and is now restricted in major export markets, which makes the sachet itself a regulated component.
DMF-free, cobalt-free silica gel in non-woven sachets sized to the shoe box or carton, plus container-level desiccant for the voyage. Where odour is the presenting complaint, an activated carbon blend addresses it alongside the moisture.
Moisture risks
Each of these has its own threshold and its own failure signature. Knowing which one you are fighting is what sets the target humidity.
Mould and mildew bloom
Leather surfaces bloom with mould within weeks in a humid container and rarely clean up fully.
DMF compliance
Dimethyl fumarate residue on goods from non-compliant sachets is a market-access and liability problem.
Stiffening and cracking
Moisture cycling stiffens leather and cracks finishes.
Odour development
Damp leather and adhesives generate odour that persists into retail.
Hardware corrosion
Buckles, zips and studs corrode and stain the leather around them.
Recommended products
DMF-free & cobalt-free white gel
White non-indicating gel manufactured free of dimethyl fumarate and cobalt, for footwear, leather, textile and consumer goods exports.
Absorption capacity published up to 67.82%
Packed sachets
The core packed range: silica gel sealed into breathable pouches from 0.5 g to 5 kg, in Tyvek, non-woven, paper or cloth.
Fourteen standard sizes, four pouch materials, custom sizes to order
Montmorillonite clay desiccant
Natural clay desiccant in thirteen sizes from 1 g to 1 kg, in composite paper, filter paper, non-woven or Tyvek.
Absorbs up to 50% of its own weight at 25 °C and 100% RH
Calcium chloride & bentonite clay
High-profile food-grade desiccant in DuPont Tyvek, blending bentonite clay with calcium chloride.
Stops container rain, dewdrops and transit odour
Adsorbent carbon
Coconut shell, wood and coal based activated carbon for odour and volatile control.
Removes odour and volatiles that desiccants leave behind
Cobalt-free self-indicating desiccant
Orange-to-green indicating gel for applications that need a visual end-point but cannot accept a cobalt-based indicator.
Indicating performance without cobalt chloride
Compliance & documentation
The DMF-free grade is manufactured free of dimethyl fumarate and cobalt, and a DMF-free declaration is supplied with shipments.
Talk to our experts
Send us the product, the enclosure, the route and the storage period. You will get a desiccant type, a dose and a format back — not just a price list.