During the certification process the hostels' environmental management, their preservation of natural resources and their regional focus are scrutinised along with other factors such as efficiency and hostel management.
Since 1996 a large number of Swiss youth hostels have embraced the energie2000 Programme aimed at sustainable management. The first youth hostel to operate in accordance with the Minergie Standard was opened in Zermatt in 2003, followed by the Scuol hostel in 2007. In 2006 the hostels in Valbella were completely restored in keeping with Minergie guidelines. Through co-operation with the Swiss climate protection organisation myclimate overnight stays and travel to the destination can now also be compensated directly - with a charge of CHF 0.60 per night earmarked for this purpose. Besides the Ibex Label the hostels also strive to achieve the EU Environmental Label. The first youth hostel was presented with this EU label in 2006. The aim is to ensure that the entire hostel network is certified by 2011. Sources: www.presseportal.ch/de/pm/100002913 (de), www.steinbock-label.ch (de)