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OEKO-TEX STeP is a globally recognised certification for sustainable production at textile and leather facilities. Published by OEKO-TEX Service GmbH in Zurich, the standard (Edition 02.2025) defines the technical conditions for certifying production facilities across the entire textile and leather value chain and for licensing the OEKO-TEX STeP trademark. This guide explains what STeP is, how it works, what it assesses, and what certified facilities gain.
What is OEKO-TEX STeP?
The OEKO-TEX STeP standard is a normative document that sets the technical conditions for the certification of production facilities throughout the entire textile and leather production chain and for the licensing of the OEKO-TEX STeP trademark. OEKO-TEX is the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology.
The objective of STeP certification is the permanent implementation of environmentally friendly production processes, optimal health and safety protection, and socially responsible working conditions. STeP certification offers a comprehensive analysis and assessment of sustainable production conditions. It supports production facilities in measuring and sustainably improving their environmental performance, health and safety performance, and social responsibility, and it requires transparent disclosure of these points to the industry and to consumers.
What Does STeP Certify? Scope and Applicability
The OEKO-TEX STeP standard applies to the certification of production facilities throughout the entire textile and leather production chain. For textiles, this covers every processing stage, from the production of fibres (non-agricultural) through spinning mills, weaving and knitting mills, and finishing facilities, to manufacturers of ready-made clothes, textile logistics centres, and manufacturers of accessories, foams, and mattresses. For leather, it covers facilities from the beamhouse through tanning, retanning, dyeing, fatliquoring, and finishing, to the making up of leather products, leather logistics centres, and manufacturers of accessories.
A key rule is that the whole facility within the scope of STeP shall be certified. Consideration of only parts or single production lines within a production site is not permitted. Producers of hides or leather materials that are excluded under the OEKO-TEX LEATHER STANDARD are not eligible to apply for STeP.
The Six STeP Modules
STeP evaluates facility performance across six modules. Each module is weighted equally, so each makes up one sixth of the total percentage of 100 percent.
| Module | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Chemical Management | Detection and prevention of negative effects of chemicals on products, the environment, and users; minimising and avoiding chemical hazards and risks through a chemical management system. |
| Environmental Performance | Wastewater and air emission limit values, waste management, and environmental impact of production. |
| Environmental and Energy Management | Management systems, documentation, operational process control, and continuous improvement of environmental and energy performance. |
| Social Responsibility | Working conditions, labour standards, and socially responsible practices across the facility. |
| Quality Management | Management commitment, processes, and systems that ensure consistent product and process quality. |
| Health and Safety | Protection of worker health and safety and safe operating conditions within the facility. |
How STeP Is Scored: Performance Levels
Each module contains specific performance criteria assessed through basic questions (including exclusion criteria) and advanced questions. Certification is not possible if the minimum performance per module is not met. Facilities receive one of the following ratings:
| Rating | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Not passed | Any exclusion criterion is not fulfilled, or less than 70 percent of the points from basic questions are achieved. |
| Level 1: Entry level | At least 70 percent of the points from the basic questions are achieved, including the exclusion criteria for each module. |
| Level 2: Good implementation | At least 34 percent of the advanced questions (including any remaining basic points) are attained. |
| Level 3: Exemplary implementation | At least 67 percent of the advanced questions (including any remaining basic points) are attained. |
The STeP Certification Process
The OEKO-TEX STeP certification process involves web-based data collection and an on-site audit at the facility. The data is recorded through a web-based assessment tool. Companies complete an extensive online questionnaire and provide evidence of their statements through relevant documents. The information and data provided through the assessment tool are analysed and evaluated by the OEKO-TEX Institute, and the submitted documents are validated during an audit of the production facility. Once the process is successfully completed, the validated company receives a STeP certificate and a qualified OEKO-TEX audit report.
Applications for OEKO-TEX STeP certification are made exclusively through the online form on the OEKO-TEX website. The OEKO-TEX Institute contacted by the applicant provides guidance and support during the certification process and supplies the login data for the web-based assessment tool. With submission of the application form alongside the signed Terms of Use, the applicant accepts the obligation to assume the costs incurred by the Institute during the audit.
There are two ways to use the assessment tool. STeP certification uses the evaluation in the application and as the basis for all tests and certifications. Self-Assessment lets some facilities complete the tool for an internal evaluation reviewed by OEKO-TEX STeP experts without subsequent audits; this produces an evaluation and quality report but cannot lead to certification on its own.
Audits and Certificate Validity
A site inspection (audit) is mandatory for the final assessment and for verifying the conformity of the details provided by the customer. If certain technical details cannot be proven with documents, the audit team may order or independently perform tests, in particular for specific limit values such as wastewater or air emissions that must be proven by reports from nationally authorised or accredited laboratories in accordance with ISO 17025.
The Institute tasked with the audit carries out a compliance audit every 18 months. This compliance audit is mandatory for all STeP certified facilities and shall be completed not later than 22 months after initial certification. The OEKO-TEX STeP certificate is valid for three years (36 months) from the date of issue. If a customer decides to extend the certificate, the extension must be initiated before the validity expires. The expiration date of the renewed certificate is exactly three years after the expiration date of the previous one.
STeP and the MADE IN GREEN Label
STeP is the sustainable production pillar within the OEKO-TEX portfolio. A facility that holds STeP certification can use the STeP trademark under the licensing conditions defined in the Terms of Use. Together with product safety testing under OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, STeP forms the basis for the OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN label, which communicates both sustainable production and tested product safety to consumers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between OEKO-TEX STeP and STANDARD 100?
A: STeP certifies the sustainable production conditions of an entire facility across six modules, while STANDARD 100 tests finished and semi-finished textile products for harmful substances. STeP is about how products are made; STANDARD 100 is about what the product contains. Together they underpin the MADE IN GREEN label.
Q: Who can apply for OEKO-TEX STeP certification?
A: Any production facility throughout the textile and leather production chain can apply, from fibre and spinning mills to finishing, ready-made garment manufacturers, logistics centres, and accessory or foam producers. The whole facility within the scope of STeP must be certified; partial or single-line certification is not permitted.
Q: How long is an OEKO-TEX STeP certificate valid?
A: The OEKO-TEX STeP certificate is valid for three years (36 months) from the date of issue. A compliance audit is required every 18 months and must be completed no later than 22 months after initial certification. To renew, the extension must be initiated before the current validity expires.
Q: What are the STeP performance levels?
A: Facilities are rated Not passed, Level 1 (Entry level, at least 70 percent of basic question points), Level 2 (Good implementation, at least 34 percent of advanced question points), or Level 3 (Exemplary implementation, at least 67 percent of advanced question points). Certification requires at least the minimum performance in every module.
Q: How much does STeP certification cost?
A: The standard states that the applicant accepts the obligation to assume the costs incurred by the OEKO-TEX Institute during the audit. The actual fee depends on facility size, production scope, and documentation quality, and is quoted by the Institute. For a tailored estimate and support, contact our team via the link below.
Q: Can one production line be certified under STeP?
A: No. The standard requires that the whole facility within the scope of STeP shall be certified. Certifying only parts or single production lines within a production site is not permitted.
Conclusion
OEKO-TEX STeP is the definitive facility-level certification for sustainable textile and leather production. By assessing six equally weighted modules, scoring performance on a transparent four-level scale, and requiring both web-based data collection and on-site audits, STeP gives brands and buyers verifiable proof of responsible manufacturing. If you are preparing for STeP certification, our team can help you close gaps, prepare documentation, and plan your audit. Contact us for expert support.
References
- OEKO-TEX. STeP Standard, Edition 02.2025. OEKO-TEX Service GmbH, Zurich.
- OEKO-TEX. STeP Standard, Edition 02.2025, Chapter 1 Purpose, Chapter 2 Applicability, Chapter 4 Defining the modules, Chapter 5 Testing and certification process.
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