Social sustainability at WALO: in conversation with Sarah Zoldan

The world of work is changing and with it the expectations of collaboration, transparency and responsibility – from employees, partners and the public. Over the past two years, WALO has therefore revised its central principles of collaboration. Sarah Zoldan, Sustainability Manager at WALO, explains why this step was necessary and what effect it has been having on everyday life.

Why was it important to update the social principles at WALO?

The way we collaborate has changed a lot in recent years. Issues such as transparency, reliability and responsible behaviour are more important today than ever – both within WALO and beyond. At the same time, we realised that our existing principles no longer adequately reflected this reality in all aspects.

Our aim was therefore to provide direction and clarity: what is important to us? What values guide our actions? And what behaviour do we expect from each other – in everyday life, in collaborating with partners and in our responsibility towards society? By revising key documents, we wanted to answer precisely these questions and set out our position in a clear and contemporary way.

One core element of this is the new Code of Conduct. What are its defining features?

The Code of Conduct was comprehensively redrafted in 2024. We have updated its contents, clarified terms and made the structure much clearer. It was important to us that the code is not perceived as a rigid set of rules, but as a guide for real-world situations.

It shows which values guide us and how we want to embody them in everyday life: in respectful interaction with one another, in dealing with potential conflicts of interest or in questions of responsibility towards society. The code makes it clear that our values are not fixed, but evolving – without losing their essence. This is exactly what we mean by practising social sustainability.

What are some examples of social sustainability in day-to-day work at WALO?

It is very much in evidence in the way we organise work. With the new regulations on working from home, which were introduced in 2025, we have created a clear and reliable framework for flexible working. Experience in recent years has shown how important such rules are – especially when many employees work from home on a regular basis.

The regulations set out what is possible, which requirements apply and how teamwork is organised. For us, working from home is more than just a choice of workspace. It is an expression of trust. And trust is a key component of social sustainability. Clear rules help to embody this trust in everyday life and make it easy for everyone to understand.

Why is a publicly accessible whistleblower system also part of social sustainability?

Because social sustainability also means taking responsibility in situations where things may get uncomfortable. With the whistleblower system, we have deliberately created a channel through which not only employees, but also customers, partners and other people can disclose information – anonymously and securely.

Because social sustainability also means taking responsibility in situations where things may get uncomfortable. With the whistleblower system, we have deliberately created a channel through which not only employees, but also customers, partners and other people can disclose information – anonymously and securely.

What does social sustainability mean to you personally?

For me, it means consistently taking responsibility in everyday life. Not just in mission statements or strategies, but in real-world decisions and in our day-to-day interactions. Clear principles help to provide direction. However, it is crucial that we embody them, reflect on them and refine them. In my view, it is precisely this that is the great advantage of social sustainability.