Tempo Weich & Stark tissues

Tempo is one of Germany's most iconic brands, established in 1929 by Oskar Rosenfelder of the Vereinigte Papierwerke AG in Nuremberg. The brand revolutionized hygiene by introducing the first disposable paper handkerchief made of cellulose, quickly becoming a generic trademark for tissues in German-speaking countries. Its branding often features the 'Est. 1929' mark to honor this long heritage.

Over the decades, the brand's ownership has transitioned through several major corporations. It was acquired by the Schickedanz Group in 1935 and later sold to the American consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble in 1994. In 2007, the Swedish company SCA (Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget) acquired the brand. In 2017, SCA spun off its hygiene and health operations into a new, independent publicly traded company called Essity.

Today, Tempo products are primarily manufactured in Germany (historically in Neuss, with recent production shifting toward Mannheim) and other locations across Europe to serve international markets. As of 2026, Essity remains the global owner, maintaining Tempo's position as a premium leader in the personal hygiene sector.