The first matches were invented in 1831, but they were far from being safety matches. The so-called yellow phosphorus match – famous to most of us from old Western movies – could ignite on any surface. The dramatic flair worked wonders on the screen, but for everyday use they were dangerously toxic and highly combustible, demanding extreme caution.
Safety match is a Swedish innovation
Swedish professor Gustav Erik Pasch revolutionised match safety in 1844 by replacing the hazardous yellow phosphorus with red phosphorus, making the match far safer. To further prevent accidents, these new matches could only be ignited by striking them against a special pad. This transformation brought the match from the Wild West into the modern home as the reliable, safe "safety match" we know today.
From Swedish beginnings to a worldwide spark
The journey of Swedish Match began in 1868 when we first opened the doors to the Vulcan match factory in Tidaholm. In 1907, a second factory was established in Vetlanda. Remarkably, both of these sites remain at the heart of our production today, preserving our heritage while working to improve our production methods over the years.
In 1917, Ivar Kreuger – known as the "Match King"– established Svenska Tändsticks AB as a public company in Jönköping, bringing together Sweden's leading match manufacturers into one unified company. By the 1930s, the company had grown into a global leader, controlling 60% of the world’s match production and holding stakes in companies across 33 countries. Svenska Tändsticks AB officially changed its name and became Swedish Match AB in 1980.
Another defining milestone came in 1992, when we launched the sulfur-free match. Building on our foundation of quality and progress, this match is a cleaner, more sustainable product made from renewable resources and free from toxic heavy metals.
Developing safety matches with sustainable practices
With over 150 years of expertise, Swedish Match proudly carries forward its Swedish roots. As one of the world’s largest producers of safety matches, we’re committed to preserving this Swedish tradition while advancing toward new, sustainable practices. Innovation remains our guiding star, ensuring matches stay as safe and dependable for future generations as they have been for over a century. This dedication to progress and care for people and nature is the legacy we hope to leave behind.
