Cookie Policy
Learn how STEP uses cookies and tracking technologies to optimize your marketplace experience.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better browsing experience, and supply information to the website owners.
Cookies can be "first-party" (set by us directly) or "third-party" (set by external services we use). They can also be "session" cookies (deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent" cookies (remaining on your device for a defined period or until manually deleted).
This Cookie Policy explains how the STEP ESG & Green Building Tech Marketplaceuses cookies and similar tracking technologies.
2. Types of Cookies We Use
We categorize the cookies used on the STEP Platform as follows:
Essential / Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are required for the Platform to function properly. Without them, core features would not work. They cannot be disabled.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| sb-*-auth-token | Supabase user authentication session | Session |
| NEXT_LOCALE | Language preference (EN/AR) via next-intl | 1 year |
| __Host-next-* | Next.js framework security and routing cookies | Session |
Functional Cookies
These cookies enhance your experience by remembering your preferences and settings, such as filter selections, tutorial/tour completion status, and display preferences.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| step_tour_completed | Tracks whether the Spotlight Tour tutorial has been completed | Persistent |
| step_filters | Remembers last-used marketplace filter selections | Session |
Analytics & Performance Cookies
These cookies help us understand how users interact with the Platform by collecting anonymized, aggregate data on page visits, search queries, tool views, and navigation patterns. This data is used solely to improve Platform functionality, content relevance, and AI ESG Advisor accuracy. We do not use this data for advertising or targeted marketing purposes.
3. Third-Party Services & Cookies
The Platform integrates with the following third-party services that may set their own cookies:
Supabase
Authentication, database, and storage services. Sets authentication tokens for secure session management.
Vercel
Platform hosting and edge network. May set performance-related cookies for load balancing and caching.
YouTube (Embedded Videos)
Tool demo videos embedded from YouTube may set cookies. We use privacy-enhanced mode where available to minimize tracking.
We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of these third-party services for more information about their cookie practices.
4. How to Manage Cookies
You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View what cookies are stored on your device and delete them individually or in bulk.
- Block all cookies or only third-party cookies.
- Configure your browser to notify you before a cookie is set.
- Set cookies to be automatically deleted when you close your browser.
Here are links to cookie management instructions for major browsers:
Note: Blocking essential cookies may impair the functionality of the STEP Platform, including login, language preferences, and secure browsing features.
5. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date.
If you have questions about our use of cookies or this policy, please contact us at contact@hauteinnova.com.