OEKO-TEX® STeP
ATTENTION!
In November 2022, a new design for the OEKO-TEX® label and logo was introduced. Existing labels may continue to be used until the end of 2024. Certificate holders can download the new labels in various formats and color schemes after logging in to the OEKO-TEX® website – click here
Sustainable development – making the world a little better
OEKO-TEX® STeP (Sustainable Textile Production) is a certification system for brands, retailers, and manufacturers in the textile supply chain who wish to communicate their achievements in sustainable production processes to the public in a transparent and credible manner. Our modular and independent certification provides targeted support for brands, manufacturers, and retailers on their path to sustainability, offering consumers a high degree of transparency, reliability, and credibility.
The goal of STeP certification is to continuously implement environmentally friendly production processes, ensure optimal health and safety conditions, and provide socially acceptable working conditions. The dynamic further development of the STeP standard and other benchmarks allows certified companies to continuously improve in the areas of environmental protection, social responsibility, and efficiency. This, in turn, enables them to achieve the best possible competitive position in the market.
Łukasiewicz – Łódź Institute of Technology is the only institution in Poland that conducts certification processes, performs testing, and issues certificates for textile products under the OEKO-TEX® STeP label.
Who is it for?
Certification is available for manufacturing facilities at all stages of processing—from fiber production, spinning, weaving, and knitting to finishing processes—as well as for manufacturers of finished textile products.
The modular structure of STeP
Through a modular assessment of all key areas of the company—such as chemical management, environmental performance, quality management, occupational health and safety, social responsibility, and environmental management—STeP certification enables a comprehensive and reliable evaluation of the scope of sustainable management practices implemented by the production facility.
To obtain STeP certification, a company must meet certain minimum requirements in specific areas of its operations. On this basis, the following related issues are taken into account:
- chemical management
- compliance with the guidelines of the restricted substances list (RSL)
- implementation of appropriate management of hazardous substances
- compliance with “green chemistry” principles
- regular training and continuing education on the handling of chemicals in use
- the obligation to provide appropriate communication/information regarding the chemicals used and the risks associated with their use
- monitoring the use of chemicals
- environmental performance
- compliance with specified limit values
- the use of the best available production technologies
- optimization of production processes
- efficient use of resources
- responsible management of waste, wastewater, emissions, etc.
- reduction in carbon footprint
- environmental management
- evidence of an appropriate environmental management system to ensure targeted coordination and systematic implementation of all environmental protection measures
- commitment to achieving environmental goals
- preparation of periodic environmental reports
- appointment of an environmental officer
- periodic training on the implementation of environmental objectives and measures
- implementation of existing environmental management systems (e.g., ISO 14001)
- social responsibility
- ensuring socially acceptable working conditions as defined by the conventions of the United Nations and the International Labour Organization (ILO)
- evaluating employee performance
- implementation of existing social standards (e.g., SA 8000)
- Guaranteed training for employees on social issues
- quality management
- implementation of an appropriate quality management system, e.g., in accordance with ISO 9001 or an operational approach
- Guaranteed traceability, accountability, and appropriate documentation regarding the flow of goods and manufactured products
- advanced aspects of management, such as risk management or corporate governance
- occupational safety and health
- evidence of appropriate measures to ensure the required health and safety conditions in the workplace (e.g., filtration systems, hearing protection, etc.)
- Guaranteed safety of buildings and production facilities (e.g., through structural measures, evacuation plans, separation of production areas, etc.)
- Risk prevention – Implementation of existing safety standards (e.g., OHSAS 18001)
Why STeP
A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH – CRITERIA THAT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF TEXTILES
Unlike other certification systems, which consider only certain aspects of sustainability, STeP enables a comprehensive analysis and assessment of sustainable production conditions. Furthermore, STeP’s certification requirements and criteria are specifically tailored to the textile and apparel industry. To ensure global comparability, STeP criteria are standardized worldwide. They are continuously analyzed, evaluated, and updated as needed (e.g., in response to new market developments, legal regulations, and scientific findings).
COMPLETE AND INDEPENDENT
Responsibility for STeP certification lies with the International OEKO-TEX® Association, which comprises 18 institutes and representative offices in over 60 countries worldwide. OEKO-TEX® institutes are accredited, independent testing laboratories that conduct textile testing; they possess broad expertise and many years of experience in conditions specific to the textile and apparel industries.
Benefits of holding a STeP certificate:
FOR BRANDS AND RETAILERS
STeP enables global brands and retailers to identify suitable suppliers worldwide who meet their environmental and social responsibility requirements. This allows them to clearly and comprehensively document their shared commitment to sustainability for end consumers throughout the supply chain.
FOR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES
Textile and apparel manufacturers can significantly improve the efficiency of their production processes by obtaining STeP certification. Our system helps assess a company’s position regarding sustainability and identifies areas for improvement. Independent verification of sustainable production practices strengthens your company’s image, enabling you to enter new markets and build relationships with suppliers.
How to obtain STeP certification
- Fill out the online application form on the OEKO-TEX® website and agree to the terms of use
- After receiving the access instructions from the responsible OEKO-TEX® institute, complete the STeP assessment test available on the website
- The OEKO-TEX® Institute evaluates the information and reviews the submitted documents
- The OEKO-TEX® Institute verifies the data collected during the on-site audit at the production facility
- The OEKO-TEX® Institute prepares a detailed audit report containing the final assessment and issues the STeP certificate
Certification Process
Certification
The certification process can be broadly divided into seven steps/stages:
- Interested companies contact one of the global OEKO-TEX® institutes (contact offices) to apply for certification or register on the STeP platform.
- OEKO-TEX® provides the company with access credentials to the assessment tool/test.
- The company completes the electronic questionnaire.
- The data are analysed and evaluated by OEKO-TEX®.
- An OEKO-TEX® auditor visits the production facility and verifies the information provided in the electronic questionnaire.
- OEKO-TEX® prepares a detailed audit report and – if the required criteria are met – issues the STeP certificate to the applicant company.
- After receiving the certificate, the company is entitled to publicly communicate information about the STeP certificateawarded and to use it for commercial purposes.
Certificate
The STeP certificate is valid for three years and may subsequently be renewed an unlimited number of times.
Certification Costs
The costs of STeP certification depend on the size of the company, test criteria specific to each production stage, and the extent to which environmental protection and social responsibility measures have already been implemented.
The costs include support and consultancy provided by OEKO-TEX® institutes during the application process, preparation of the assessment, preparation, performance and documentation of the audit, issuance of the certificate, and the licence fee.
Duration of the Process
Typically, a period of approximately three months is required from application submission, data collection and evaluation to the audit and issuance of the certificate. However, the actual duration of the certification process depends on the individual circumstances of each production facility. This applies, for example, to whether certificates already exist for specific operational areas or how quickly the required data for assessment can be identified and provided.
Assessment
OEKO-TEX® requires companies to provide extensive data and parameters enabling an appropriate assessment of the sustainability level of production facilities. Data collection takes place via an online portal using the available assessment tool/test.
After establishing contact or submitting an application to an OEKO-TEX® institute, companies receive the required access credentials to enter information online into the questionnaire and submit it to the institute.
Following data evaluation, the applicant receives a detailed assessment report.
Interested companies may independently decide whether to use the assessment solely for internal purposes (e.g. to determine the current status of their sustainability efforts) or to implement it as a certification process to obtain the STeP label.
Scoring
STeP certification includes three different levels describing the extent to which a company has achieved sustainable production and working conditions:
- Level 1: Entry level
- Level 2: Good implementation of best practices with potential for further optimisation
- Level 3: Exemplary implementation of best practices
The STeP certificate indicates the following assessment results:
- Achieved sustainability level
- Overall rating
- Individual ratings of the assessed company areas
The STeP scoring system ensures greater transparency, as it enables comparison of the sustainability level of production facilities across the entire textile supply chain at all relevant levels, in different countries and beyond legal regulations.
The detailed presentation of assessment results allows for a reliable definition of a company’s positioning in terms of sustainability and clearly identifies areas with further optimisation potential.
Audits
Information and data provided by the company as part of the assessment are analysed and evaluated by OEKO-TEX®. Verification is carried out in the form of an on-site audit of the production facility by the responsible OEKO-TEX® institute.
OEKO-TEX® maintains a comprehensive internal quality management system to ensure globally standardised audit results. These activities include, for example, joint training sessions and regular continuing education for auditors, as well as annual meetings of OEKO-TEX® technical expert groups.
Verification
In addition to routine audits within the framework of initial STeP certification and its extension, OEKO-TEX® conducts intermediate audits (compliance audits) as well as unannounced audits at production facilities to verify compliance with the required criteria after the certificate has been issued.
Textil-Cert Textile and Leather Product Certification Department
Gdańska 118, 90-520 Łódź
tel: +48 42 25 34 432
e-mail: cert@lit.lukasiewicz.gov.pl
dr inż. Joanna Szmyt
tel. +48 42 253 44 65; +48 502 424 195
e-mail: joanna.szmyt@lit.lukasiewicz.gov.pl