A "STeP" label is not meant to be displayed on products, but rather to be used in business-to-business communication. Given the locally different legislative regulations, "STeP" acts as a tool to render the sustainability and social achievements of textile facilities comparable across country borders. Via the central "MySTeP" database maintained by Oeko-Tex, certified facilities may make their certification data accessible to their customers along the textile chain. The guiding principle of certification according to "STeP by Oeko-Tex" is not a one-off optimization of environmental measures but rather the permanent improvement of overall environmental performance within a company.