A description is given of a use of a composition comprising an orthofused phenolic resole in an amount of up to 60 wt %, preferably in an amount of 40 wt % to 60 wt %; as first solvent for the ortho-fused phenolic resole, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of alkyl silicates, alkyl silicate oligomers and mixtures thereof, the total amount of these compounds being greater than 30 wt%; optionally one or more further solvents for the ortho-fused phenolic resole; optionally one or more further additives; the weight percentages being based on the total amount of the composition, as a binder component for producing feeder elements by the cold box process, wherein the ratio by mass of the total amount of first solvent to the total amount of further solvents and further additives is at least greater than 1, preferably at least greater than 2. One or more further solvents for the ortho-fused phenolic resole are selected from the group consisting of mixtures of dialkyl esters of C2 to C6 dicarboxylic acids; monoesters of fatty acids with a carbon chain of 12 or more C atoms, preferably alkyl monoesters, methyl monoesters and/or butyl monoesters; and propylene carbonate. One or more further additives are selected from the group consisting of acyl chlorides, methanesulfonic acid, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters of phosphoric acid, and adhesion promoters preferably selected from the group consisting of aminosilanes, epoxysilanes, mercaptosilanes and ureidosilanes. A description is also given of the use of a two component binder system for producing feeder elements by the cold box process, and of a method for producing a feeder element for the foundry industry, and also of a feeder element. The two-component binder system for producing feeder elements by the cold box process consists of a composition as phenolic resin component mentioned above and a polyisocyanate component. The method for producing a feeder element comprises: producing or providing a molding mixture for a feeder element, producing or providing the components of a two-component binder system, mixing the molding mixture with the two-component binder system, molding the resulting mixture to give an uncured feeder element, and curing the feeder element according to the cold box process. The feeder element encompasses feeder surrounds, feeder sleeves, feeder caps and also heating pads. The primary object of the present invention is to specify a binder system or a binder component enabling the production of a feeder sleeve which, when used in foundry work, is accompanied by particularly low emissions of pollutants, and the feeder sleeve produced should have a low density and possess a high flexural strength.