For companies in the textile chain that want to analyze, certify and optimize their production sites in terms of sustainable and socially responsible production conditions, it is Step by Oeko-Tex that is an independent certification system. The said certificate is awarded by the Oeko-Tex Community which is part of the Hohenstein Institute, one of the most respected research facilities in the German textile industry.

Step by Oeko-Tex was launched in 2014 that replaced Oeko-Tex Standard 1000. More popular than that is Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, although this only tests the health safety of products and not the entire production chain like what Step by Oeko-Tex does.

The Oeko-Tex Step stands for Sustainable Textile Production and is used to certify production plants at all processing stages from fiber production to spinning and weaving/knitting, all the way up to refinement plants and manufacturers. The Step by Oeko-Tex certification divides the topic of sustainability into six different modules: chemicals and their use, environmental performance, environmental management, social responsibility, quality management, and occupational health and safety.