STeP modules
The six modules of STeP certification include:
- Chemical management
- Environmental performance
- Environmental management
- Social responsibility
- Occupational health & safety
- Quality management
OEKO-TEX® STeP stands for "Sustainable Textile and Leather Production" and is an independent certification system for production facilities along the textile and leather supply chains who want to ensure and transparently communicate their environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and socially responsible working conditions.
STeP certification allows manufacturers, brands and retailers to establish and continuously improve ecological manufacturing processes, socially responsible working conditions and worker safety in their supply chain’s production facilities. Third-party certification, regular updates to the STeP criteria and a built-in benchmarking provided by the certification tool help certified manufacturers back their competitive position gained by optimised and efficient production processes.
Compared to other available certification systems, STeP is specifically tailored to the needs of the textile and leather industries. Based on a modular and holistic approach, STeP ensures a comprehensive analysis and assessment of production facilities along the entire supply chain by scrutinising all the necessary aspects of sustainable manufacturing.
The six modules of STeP certification include:
After an online-assessment carried out by the company, our auditors validate the provided data on-site in the facilities. On the certificate, the degree of sustainability achieved by the production facility is shown in the form of a transparent three-stage scoring system, which lists the results for each single module and the company as a whole.
The STeP certificate is issued after a production facility has been successfully audited and is valid for three years. This period can always be extended for an additional three years following successful re-certification. If problems are identified at any point during the certification process, a OEKO-TEX® STeP certificate may be revoked.
STeP certification is open to every production facility along the textile and leather supply chains who want to analyse and evaluate their production and working conditions.
Textile industry
Leather industry
Other production facilities
STeP certification is currently unavailable for agricultural processes such as the cultivation of cotton or the production of sheep’s wool and downstream stages such as transportation.
STeP certification requires compliance with environmental and social criteria in six modules. The minimum requirements include:
Chemical management
Environmental performance
Environmental management
Social responsibility
Occupational health and safety
Quality management