STeP certification market to reach $2.68 billion by 2030

The market for OEKO-TEX Sustainable Textile and Leather Production certification is projected to grow from $1.61 billion in 2025 to $1.78 billion in 2026, with Europe leading and Asia-Pacific set to grow fastest. The report points to rising demand for sustainable textiles, tighter compliance pressure and stronger brand requirements across global supply chains.

Why it matters: - OEKO-TEX STeP certification is becoming a key signal for textile and leather manufacturers that want to prove environmental responsibility and social compliance. - The market's growth reflects broader pressure on fashion supply chains to reduce pollution, manage chemicals and improve transparency. - Brands and retailers are increasingly using sustainability standards as a supplier requirement, which can affect market access.

What happened: - The Business Research Company released a 2026 market report on the OEKO-TEX Sustainable Textile and Leather Production certification market. - The report says the market will rise from $1.61 billion in 2025 to $1.78 billion in 2026, a CAGR of 11.1%. - The report forecasts the market will reach $2.68 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.6%. - Europe held the largest market share in 2025. - Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. - The report covers Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Africa.

The details: - OEKO-TEX STeP certification uses a modular framework to evaluate manufacturing sites. - The certification assesses environmental impact, chemical management, social responsibility and quality control. - The system is meant to help companies improve sustainable production across supply chains. - The market's recent growth has been driven by rising awareness of sustainable textile production, stronger demand for environmentally responsible fashion and broader acceptance of international textile standards. - Stricter regulations on chemical safety and wider sustainability efforts by manufacturers have also supported growth. - Future growth is tied to demand for supply-chain transparency, wider use of sustainability certifications and more requirements from global brands and retailers. - The report highlights market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrix graphics, Excel-based forecasting dashboards, market hotspots infographics, key technology analysis and updated graphics and tables. - The report also cites UNEP noting that about 8% of textile fibers produced in 2023 came from recycled materials in Kenya, underscoring the shift toward recycled inputs. - A free sample report is available here. - The full report is available here.

Between the lines: - The report frames sustainability certification as both a compliance tool and a commercial differentiator. - Rapid forecast growth suggests certification demand is moving from niche positioning toward mainstream supply-chain management. - Europe's lead and Asia-Pacific's expected acceleration point to uneven adoption across textile-producing regions.

What's next: - More manufacturers are likely to pursue certification as brands tighten sourcing standards. - Regulatory pressure on chemical safety and environmental compliance should continue to support demand. - The market's next phase will likely depend on how quickly supply chains can prove transparency and reduce environmental impact.

The bottom line: - OEKO-TEX STeP certification is moving deeper into the global textile and leather production value chain as sustainability becomes a commercial requirement, not just a branding choice.