The present disclosure relates to an aqueous binder composition, comprising a) at least one polymer P constructed from ≧0.1 and ≦2.5 wt % of at least one acid-functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer (monomers A) ≧0 and ≦4.0 wt % of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid nitrile or dinitrile (monomers B) ≧0 and ≦2.0 wt % of at least one crosslinking monomer having two or more nonconjugated ethylenically unsaturated groups (monomers C) ≧0 and ≦10 wt % of at least one α,β-monoethylenically unsaturated C3 to C6 mono- or dicarboxamide (monomers D) ≧25 and ≦69.9 wt % of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer whose homopolymer has a glass transition temperature ≦30° C. and which differs from the monomers A to D (monomers E), and ≧30 and ≦70 wt % of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer whose homopolymer has a glass transition temperature ≧50° C. and which differs from the monomers A to D (monomers F),  in polymerized form, wherein the amounts of monomers A to F sum to 100 wt %, and b) at least one saccharide compound S, the amount of which is determined such that it is ≧10 and ≦400 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of polymer P.