For 90 years in a main role: tesafilm® celebrates a milestone anniversary

• A brand icon close to consumers: tesafilm® has been part of everyday life for generations, accompanying millions of people.
• A steady course of innovation: From classic adhesive tape to more sustainable solutions such as tesafilm® PAPER.
• Made in Offenburg: Annual tesafilm® production equals an area of around 2,800 football pitches.

Norderstedt – The iconic tesafilm® is celebrating its 90th anniversary. tesa, an international manufacturer of innovative adhesive tapes and self-adhesive product solutions, is honoring a true classic that has stood for transparent adhesive tape for generations and is among Europe’s best-known branded consumer products. Whether at the office, at home, or at school, tesafilm® accompanies millions of people in their everyday lives and has repeatedly evolved successfully over time. With tesafilm® PAPER, tesa has recently introduced a new generation of the classic that places an even stronger focus on sustainability while offering the proven high quality of a strong brand.

Evolution of an iconic product

For nine decades, tesafilm® has stood for ease of use and reliable adhesion. Over time, the product has been continuously refined and adapted to new requirements and customer needs. Its origins go back to Hugo Kirchberg, who from 1934 played a key role in advancing Beiersdorf’s adhesive tape business. In 1936, tesafilm® first came onto the market as tesa® adhesive film and was later continued under its current name. Early on, the adhesive tape was offered together with a matching dispenser, making especially easy and convenient handling a core part of the product experience.

Over the decades, the range steadily expanded, from “Invisible tesafilm®” and crystal-clear versions to double-sided solutions. In recent years alone, more than ten product variants for a wide range of applications have been launched. The iconic red-and-blue tesafilm® dispenser has also been continuously developed over time and is available in different sizes, designs, and versions. This ongoing innovative strength underscores the brand’s high standards of quality and innovation.

tesafilm® Crystal Recycled and tesafilm® PAPER as sustainable milestones

In recent years, tesa has consistently focused on more sustainable materials in tesafilm® production. An important step was the introduction of tesafilm® Crystal Recycled, featuring a carrier film made from 90 percent recycled PET, a water-based acrylate adhesive, and a core made from 100 percent industrial plastic-processing residues. This paved the way for further innovations within the more sustainable product family.

This development is also the foundation for the latest generation of tesafilm®: With tesafilm® PAPER, the product is available for the first time with a paper-based carrier material. It offers high transparency once applied, can be torn by hand, and is suitable for a wide range of everyday uses, DIY projects, or office applications. The newcomer combines everyday practicality with clearly defined material standards: The paper used for the carrier comes from certified, responsibly managed forests or other controlled sources. In addition, the INGEDE-12 test confirms that the product does not impair the recycling of paper and cardboard.

“tesafilm® has stood for quality, reliability and continuous innovation for 90 years. The brand’s success is built on one clear principle: we develop our solutions consistently from the perspective of our customers and their everyday applications. This approach not only led to the creation of tesafilm®, but also early on to the development of matching dispensers that made usage easier and more intuitive. This combination of customer understanding, ease of use and continuous improvement continues to shape tesafilm® today – from trusted classics to more sustainable solutions such as tesafilm® PAPER,” says Dr. Kourosh Bahrami, CEO of tesa SE.

Produced in Offenburg: A site with a future

The well-known tesafilm® is produced at the tesa plant in Offenburg. Each year, the site manufactures around 200 million square meters of adhesive tape. The annual production volume of tesafilm® alone corresponds to an area of around 2,800 football pitches.

In the future, tesafilm® will remain firmly connected to the Offenburg site. With the current plant expansion, tesa is taking important steps toward more sustainable production, including solvent-free and energy-efficient processes. In this way, modern production infrastructure and sustainable product solutions are seamlessly integrated.

Anniversary campaign starting in late summer

To mark its 90th anniversary, tesa is supporting tesafilm®’s birthday with high-impact consumer campaigns. Customer-focused measures, including attractive prize promotions, will start online and on social media in late summer 2026 and will generate additional brand visibility through the end of the year.