Women in rural areas of the global south are disproportionately impacted by climate change, as the Swedish inventor Petra Wadström discussed at the 2024 R&D Management Conference, but does the presence of women on the board of directors of private firms positively impact a company’s sustainability credentials? This is the question being asked by Emilia Filippi, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, who is chair of track 7.4 at the 2025 R&D Management Conference.
Gender and sustainability
Research* by Emilia, and her colleagues Mariasole Bannò, Letizia Lo Preiato, and Sandro Trento, has revealed that indeed the presence of women in top echelon positions may have a positive effect on a firm’s sustainability. The question arises however, do companies that invest in sustainable practices, also value greater diversity on their senior management?
Emilia explains: “My research interests focus on evaluating policies to reduce gender disparities, particularly in the labor market and within companies, and exploring how gender equality can drive advancements in environmental policies and climate change mitigation.
“Recent global shifts, including the push for green transitions and digitalization, underscore the urgency of integrating gender perspectives to foster inclusive progress.
“Regulation is the primary tool to address market failures, especially in areas such as environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. While market forces increasingly push for greener innovation, regulation plays a critical role as a propulsive force. It ensures that even the most reluctant companies adapt to new market standards, creating a level playing field and encouraging widespread adoption of sustainable practices.”
The research showed that the presence of women on the board of directors is associated with greater engagement in social and environmental projects and increases the quality and transparency of sustainability disclosure.
Emilia comments: “Our results could inspire a new path for women inside businesses: increasing the number of women on BoD. Furthermore, findings suggest that policymakers should consider the presence of women when designing laws affecting environmental and social sustainability and implement specific actions to stimulate such a virtuous relationship.”
Inspiring change
Emilia considers biodiversity an incredible opportunity for innovation: “Healthy ecosystems provide essential services such as pollination, water purification, and climate regulation, all of which can inspire innovative approaches to resource management. For instance, integrating these natural services into urban planning or industrial processes can reduce waste and enhance efficiency, aligning with circular economy principles,” she says.
“By protecting and leveraging biodiversity, we can create systems that not only minimize environmental impact but also foster resilience and long-term sustainability. In this sense, biodiversity and regulation together form a powerful combination: regulation ensures the preservation of biodiversity, while biodiversity, in turn, fuels innovation and sustainable progress.”
Industry 5.0 as an enabler
The intersection between technology and sustainability is an enabler – particularly the concept of Industry 5.0 which goes beyond the concept of profit to the idea of creation of value.
Emilia continues: “The concept of Industry 5.0, which emphases not just technological productivity but also the alignment with broader societal and environmental goals, is of great interest to me.
“I recently conducted research on the steel industry. In that context, I observed how Industry 5.0 principles, such as human-centric innovation and enhanced stakeholder collaboration, can drive transformative changes. These advancements have the potential to address critical challenges, including reducing emissions, optimizing resource use, and fostering resilient supply chains.
“By integrating cutting-edge technology with a focus on collaboration and inclusivity, it creates opportunities for industries to innovate while remaining aligned with ecological and social imperatives.”
* Women in top echelon positions and their effects on sustainability: a review, synthesis and future research agenda Mariasole Bannò, Emilia Filippi & Sandro Trento
Track 7.4 Women as catalysts for eco-innovation
Climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss are critical challenges requiring urgent action and eco-innovation is essential for addressing these problems.
Within organisations, women in various positions (e.g., directors, managers, employees, customers, shareholders, and stakeholders) can significantly influence eco-innovation initiatives. Their heightened awareness of climate issues and environmental protection drives participation in sustainable practices and eco-innovation, yet research linking women to climate action remains limited.
This track aims to advance this topic by analysing:
- capacity to enhance corporate sustainability attention and efforts
- contributions to eco-innovation and outcome
- the impact of their characteristics
- the barriers they face
R&D Management Conference 2025:
Innovation & Biodiversity
Institute of Management of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa
30 June – 2 July 2025
Track 7.4 Women as catalysts for eco-innovation
Track chair: Emilia Filippi, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies
Co-chairs:
Mariasole Bannò, University of Brescia
Letizia Lo Preiato, University of Brescia
Sandro Trento, University of Trento
