Women’s Leadership in Renewable Energy: Equality and Impact
22 Eylül 2025The renewable energy sector is one of the fastest-growing and most transformative industries globally. However, this transformation is not only technological or environmental; it also has deep social dimensions. In particular, women’s leadership, gender equality, female representation in green employment, and the role of women in sustainable development have become indispensable aspects of this transition.
The Rise of Women in the Renewable Energy Sector
The renewable energy industry offers a more innovative, environmentally friendly, and socially inclusive structure compared to traditional energy sectors. Therefore, the potential for women to find greater opportunities in this field is substantial. However, the current figures still show room for improvement. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), only 32% of the energy sector workforce is made up of women, and this percentage drops even further at leadership levels.
Increasing women’s presence in the sector is not just a matter of equality; it also significantly contributes to efficiency, innovation, and achieving sustainability goals. Women's active participation in decision-making processes enhances the effectiveness of environmental policies and practices.
Women’s Leadership and Gender Equality at Biotrend
At Biotrend, we are aware of not only our environmental responsibilities in the renewable energy field but also our social ones. In 2022, we took a significant step by developing our Social Inclusion and Gender Equality Action Plan. Furthermore, we signed the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), reaffirming our commitment at an international level.
Our core goals with this action plan include:
- Increasing the rate of female employment
- Strengthening female representation in leadership positions
- Supporting women’s career development
- Raising awareness about gender equality
We are working with both internal teams and external stakeholders to achieve these objectives. In particular, we collaborate with local governments on projects that aim to boost female employment in waste management and waste-to-energy production.
Gender Distribution at Biotrend
At Biotrend, we believe that a strong and diverse workforce is essential for corporate sustainability. As of 2023, we employ 787 people in total. Women constitute 21% of our workforce, while men account for 79%.
- Female representation is higher in white-collar roles
- Male workers dominate blue-collar positions
While this distribution reflects broader industry trends, we are actively implementing policies to balance it more equitably.
Why Women’s Leadership Matters
Women’s leadership is crucial not only for increasing women's workforce participation but also for building more inclusive, fair, and innovative work cultures. Research shows that female leaders bring diverse perspectives, enhance team communication, and positively impact corporate performance.
In a sector like renewable energy, which is inherently innovation-driven, increasing the presence of women in leadership positions plays a key role in meeting sustainability targets.
Joint Projects with Local Governments
At Biotrend, we don’t limit ourselves to internal policies—we also develop collaborative projects with local governments. One of the main goals of these projects is to create new job opportunities for women, especially in waste collection, recycling, and waste-to-energy generation.
In this context, we:
- Organize awareness campaigns
- Offer technical training programs for women
- Build gender-sensitive working environments
This approach supports both local economic development and the transformation of women's societal roles.
Education and Awareness Initiatives
Empowering women in the energy sector is not just about employment. Training, mentorship, networking, and awareness programs are also vital components of this process. That’s why we:
- Provide personal and professional development training for female employees
- Create mentorship programs for women with leadership potential
- Establish internal communication platforms to encourage knowledge-sharing among female staff
Biotrend’s Vision for the Future
The data and practices we’ve shared reflect Biotrend’s strong commitment in this field. However, we view this not as a destination but as an evolving journey. Accordingly, our future goals include:
- Increasing the rate of female employment
- Raising the share of female managers to 25% by 2025
- Encouraging young women engineers to join the industry
- Supporting women entrepreneurs through green project funding
Creating Impact Beyond Equality
Women’s leadership in renewable energy is essential not only to achieve gender equality, but also to ensure a more sustainable future. At Biotrend, we act with this awareness and collaborate with our stakeholders to implement projects that create long-term impact.
We believe that women are not just members of the workforce—they are leaders of change. For that reason:
- We embed gender equality into our corporate culture
- We don’t just employ women—we empower and support them
- We work to amplify women’s voices in the renewable energy sector
Sustainability Is Possible with Women
The energy of the future will be stronger, fairer, and more sustainable with women. At Biotrend, we are proud to be part of this transformation. Renewable energy should not only serve the environment but also support communities—and women are at the heart of that impact.
If you would like to learn more about Biotrend’s corporate policies on women’s leadership and egalitarian approaches, you can review the 2024 Sustainability Report.
