8 Best Software Solutions to Obtain MITECO Certification

Calculating a carbon footprint is no longer a voluntary exercise or a symbolic gesture: it is a requirement for companies that want to comply with European sustainability standards, anticipate regulatory risks, and move toward a decarbonized business model.

In Spain, obtaining MITECO certification, the official seal of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, has become a key indicator of environmental transparency. The seal certifies that an organization calculates, reduces, and offsets its emissions using internationally recognized methodologies.

However, achieving this certification does not depend solely on commitment; it requires technical rigor, full data traceability, and professional tools that guarantee the integrity of the calculation.

In a context where the CSRD, the EU Taxonomy, and GHG Protocol standards are raising the bar, choosing the right software makes the difference between an accepted methodological report and a frustrating process full of revisions.

In this article, we analyze the best software solutions for obtaining MITECO certification, with Manglai leading the comparison as the most accessible, comprehensive, and fully aligned solution with the requirements of the official registry.

What is the MITECO seal and why is it important for companies?

The Carbon Footprint, Offsetting, and CO₂ Absorption Projects Registry of MITECO is the official platform of the Spanish Government that certifies organizations managing their carbon footprint in a transparent and verifiable manner.

This seal recognizes three levels:

• CALCULATION: the company quantifies its emissions using recognized methodologies.
• REDUCTION: the company demonstrates emission reductions compared to previous years.
• OFFSETTING: the company offsets part of its emissions through carbon absorption projects.

Obtaining the seal delivers decisive benefits:

• Verified environmental reputation for clients, public authorities, and auditors.
• Regulatory compliance, especially in regulated sectors.
• Competitive advantages in public tenders, grants, and contracts with large corporations.
• Institutional visibility, as certified organizations appear in the official MITECO registry.

MITECO certification requires alignment with the GHG Protocol, ISO 14064-1, and validated emission factors. Therefore, the software used must be methodologically robust and capable of generating audit-ready reports.

What are MITECO’s requirements for carbon footprint registration?

To register a valid carbon footprint, MITECO requires organizations to:

• Correctly define the organizational boundary.
• Include Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (Scope 3 is recommended).
• Use official emission factors (DEFRA, IPCC, MITECO, Ecoinvent).
• Document operational limits, assumptions, and data sources.
• Submit a complete methodological report with full traceability.

Since the process involves collecting data on energy, fleets, travel, suppliers, waste, and transport, robust software is essential to avoid errors, ensure consistency, and facilitate audits.

If you want to explore Scope 3 in more depth, you can consult our Practical Guide to GHG Protocol Scope 3.

Criteria for choosing the best software for MITECO certification

Choosing the best software for MITECO certification goes beyond comparing features in isolation. It means identifying which tool guarantees an acceptable calculation for the registry with minimal friction for your team.

Beyond price, it is essential to evaluate methodological rigor, data quality, audit-ready reporting capabilities, and support during the registry submission process.

Below are the six key criteria that reliable, MITECO-aligned software must meet:

1. Guaranteed methodological compliance

The software must be fully aligned with:

• GHG Protocol Corporate Standard
• ISO 14064-1
• ISO 14067 (if product calculations are included)
• Official emission factors such as DEFRA or IPCC

Without this regulatory foundation, the submission will be rejected.

2. Verified external databases

Reliable calculations depend on trustworthy emission factors. The tool should include:

• Updated DEFRA factors
• IPCC factors
• Ecoinvent for specific industrial processes
• National factors from MITECO itself

Without reliable data, the calculation loses technical validity.

3. Clear and guided workflow

An appropriate software solution should:

• Indicate step by step which data to enter
• Minimize human error
• Allow data imports from Excel, ERP systems, or energy software

This significantly reduces workload and blind spots.

4. Audit-ready MITECO reporting

The tool must automatically generate:

• Methodological reports
• Annual emissions reports
• Annexes by scope and source
• Traceable evidence with dates and responsible parties

5. Scalability across sites and years

Especially relevant for organizations with multiple locations or phases. A solid solution allows you to:

• Replicate calculations year over year
• Integrate multiple operational sites
• Automatically consolidate data

6. Total cost of ownership

This includes:

• Licenses
• Training
• Technical support
• Internal team time

Overly technical tools often multiply implementation time and costs.

Which is the best software for MITECO certification?

Determining the best software for MITECO certification depends on each organization’s climate maturity, data volume, and required level of automation.

While some solutions are designed for large corporations with complex technological ecosystems, others,such as Manglai, offer a more direct, intuitive approach fully aligned with official registry requirements.

Below, we analyze the most relevant tools on the market and explain why Manglai tops the list as the most reliable option for obtaining the MITECO seal quickly, with full traceability and methodological rigor.

1. Manglai: The most balanced option for fast and rigorous certification

Manglai has established itself as the most comprehensive solution for Spanish companies seeking MITECO certification with full guarantees. Its methodology is 100% aligned with registry requirements, and its structure minimizes errors from the very first step.

Its guided workflow supports users from energy data collection to the automatic generation of audit-ready reports, making the process accessible even for teams without a specialized technical profile.

‍

‍

Manglai integrates official databases such as DEFRA, IPCC, IEA, Ecoinvent, and MITECO emission factors, ensuring precision and full traceability across all calculations:

‍

‍

Overall, Manglai simplifies a complex process without compromising rigor, making it the most effective option for obtaining certification. Based on our current knowledge, Manglai is the only software in Spain that fully automates this process end to end.

If you want to improve how you communicate results without falling into greenwashing, we recommend reading our article: How to Communicate Your Decarbonization Strategy and Avoid Greenwashing.

2. SAP Sustainability Footprint Management

Designed for large organizations already using SAP.

Key strengths:

• Full ERP integration
• High calculation capacity by process and materials
• Suitable for complex portfolios

Limitations: high cost, steep technical learning curve, limited flexibility for SMEs.

3. Sphera Product Sustainability (GaBi)

One of the most powerful LCA and carbon footprint suites globally.

Strengths:

• Scientific rigor
• Extensive data ecosystem
• Broad regulatory compatibility

However, it requires specialized training and is typically geared toward large industrial players.

4. One Click LCA

Widely used in construction and manufacturing sectors.

Features include:

• PEF and EPD-based models
• Automated data handling
• Extensive construction process libraries

Its sector-specific focus means it may not fit non-industrial organizations.

5. Ecochain

Ideal for industrial SMEs seeking a mid-level solution.

Strengths:

• Ease of use
• Views by process, site, and product
• Good balance between detail and simplicity

Limitation: data representativeness depends heavily on the sector.

6. CarbonCloud

Focused on food and FMCG sectors.

Offers:

• Food-specific models
• Ingredient-level comparability
• Clear visualizations

Not suitable outside the food industry.

7. Carbonfact

The only tool specialized in fashion and textiles.

Enables:

• Garment-level calculations
• Collection analysis
• Comparable fashion metrics

Ideal for fashion brands, but not for other sectors.

8. openLCA

A powerful, flexible open-source tool for experts.

Advantages:

• Free
• Highly extensible
• Large plugin ecosystem

Drawbacks:

• Requires advanced technical expertise
• Not designed specifically for the MITECO process

How to obtain MITECO certification

Obtaining MITECO certification is more accessible than it seems when the right steps and a structured methodology are followed. While the registry requires rigor and traceability, any organization—regardless of size or sector—can achieve the seal with a data-driven, well-documented approach.

1. Define your objective: Are you aiming only for “Calculation,” or do you want to advance to “Reduction” and “Offsetting”?
2. Define the scopes: MITECO requires Scope 1 and 2; Scope 3 is recommended. Including Scope 3 from year one ensures real transparency.
3. Collect activity data: Electricity, fuels, fleets, travel, waste, water, and freight transport. More real data means greater accuracy.
4. Select emission factors: Always use verified sources: IPCC, DEFRA, MITECO, IEA.
5. Calculate, validate, and review: Ensure organizational and methodological boundaries meet MITECO requirements.
6. Generate the methodological report: Include boundaries, data sources, emission factors, scope results, charts, and evidence.

Obtain MITECO certification with software that combines technology and rigor

Meeting MITECO requirements demands precision, structure, and traceability. Choosing the right software not only simplifies the process but ensures calculation quality and avoids rejections by the ministry.

Among all market options, Manglai stands out as the most complete solution for companies seeking an agile, rigorous certification aligned with international standards.

If you want to move toward real, verifiable decarbonization, request a Manglai demo and discover how to obtain your MITECO certification faster than expected.

FAQs about choosing the best software for MITECO certification

What is the best software to obtain the MITECO seal?‍

Manglai is the most balanced option in terms of accuracy, usability, and methodological alignment.

Is it mandatory to measure all three scopes for MITECO certification?‍

MITECO requires Scopes 1 and 2, but including Scope 3 improves transparency and overall assessment.

Can I obtain the MITECO seal without specific software?‍

It is possible, but extremely time-consuming. Software reduces errors, ensures traceability, and simplifies validation.

How long does the MITECO certification process take?‍

With a tool like Manglai, calculations and reporting can be completed in weeks. Without software, it may take months.

Do carbon footprint data need external verification?‍

Not mandatory, but it significantly improves the credibility of the calculation.