OEKO-TEX® STeP Certification

What is OEKO-TEX® STeP?

(Former: STeP by OEKO-TEX®)

$OEKO-TEX® STeP logo, certification number and institute$

This B2B certification identifies textile and leather manufacturers who have taken verified steps toward protecting workers and the planet.

STeP = Sustainable Textile (and Leather) Production

STeP is an independent certification system that helps companies demonstrate their commitment to protecting people and the planet - verified by a neutral partner. STeP certification facilitates transparent and continuous improvement of sustainable production and responsible working conditions in production facilities throughout the textile and leather supply chains.

OEKO-TEX® STeP Comprehensive Certification

$Six modules of OEKO-TEX® STeP: chemical management, environmental performance, health and safety, social responsibility, environmental management and quality management$

STeP certification considers all aspects of ethical textile and leather manufacturing - and provides solutions for continuous improvement.

The most comprehensive certification, STeP verifies compliance with globally standardized criteria in all areas of sustainable manufacturing, including safety, environmental and chemical management and efficient use of resources.

Environmental performance
Chemical management
Quality management
Environmental management
Social responsibility
Health & Safety

OEKO-TEX® STeP Requirements

OEKO-TEX® STeP Facts

Like all OEKO-TEX® services, STeP is specifically tailored to the textile and leather industries
An online assessment and on-site audits are required
Certain factors (like child labor) immediately disqualify a facility
As long as requirements are met, STeP certificates are valid for 3 years
- renewable every 3 years upon successful re-certification
STeP is a facility certification, not a product label
STeP is a main component of OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN

STeP is for every type of textile or leather production facility.

Production facilities along the textile and leather supply chains can be certified with STeP.

icons for 12 leather and textile production processes — All textile and leather production stages can be certified - and improved - with OEKO-TEX® STeP for protecting people and the planet.

Certificate Transparency

The detailed certificate shows the facility's achievement on the 3-level scoring system - overall and for each module.

OEKO-TEX® STeP certificates with and without scoring information — Certificate versions with and without scoring information are available for the certificate holder to share.

More Detail

FAQ

Textile worker wearing safety glasses and hard hat

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STeP Certification Benefits:

Used by global brands and retailers to find independently verified suppliers that meet environmental protection and social responsibility requirements
Enables clear and comprehensive documentation of sustainability efforts to the supply chain (certificate) and to consumers (MADE IN GREEN label)
Facilitates trust for entering new markets and partnerships through independent verification

Helps manufacturers throughout the supply chain improve efficiency in production processes
Supports comprehensive analysis and evaluation of sustainable production conditions
Specifically tailored to conditions in the textile, leather and apparel industries
OEKO-TEX® collaborations, such as the Open Apparel Registry, BHive and Foursource, help increase the visibility of certified companies

STeP Application Process

Application, assessment, analysis, audit, certificate — The OEKO-TEX® STeP Certification Process takes about 3-6 months on average, depending largely on the applicant completing the online assessment.

Application
Applicant completes the application on the OEKO-TEX® website (specify Hohenstein as your institute)
Assessment
Applicant completes the online questionnaire and provides required documentation where needed
Analysis
Hohenstein evaluates all information and data submitted by the applicant
On-site audit
Our STeP auditor verifies the data at the production facilities
Evaluation
Our STeP auditor creates a detailed report and provides necessary corrective measures
Certification
We issue your final report and STeP certificate