The best software for water footprint management in packaging companies

The packaging sector depends heavily on water. Paper, cardboard, plastics, inks, industrial cleaning and cooling processes all involve significant direct and indirect water consumption. In a context of increasing global water stress and tighter regulation, companies in this sector can no longer limit themselves to measuring water consumption: they need to calculate and manage their water footprint with methodological rigor.

In addition, regulatory frameworks such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS E3) require reporting on water-related impacts, while major clients and retailers demand environmental transparency across the supply chain.

However, calculating the water footprint is technically complex. It requires life cycle assessment (LCA), regional databases and an evaluation of local water stress.

In this article, we analyze the best software solutions for water footprint management in packaging companies and the criteria you should consider when choosing the right solution.

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What is the water footprint in the packaging sector?

The water footprint is the indicator that measures the total volume of freshwater used — directly and indirectly — to produce goods and services.

Unlike simple water consumption, the water footprint:

• Considers the full life cycle (LCA)
• Includes water embedded in raw materials
• Assesses impact depending on the region where water is used
  

Methodological framework

The Water Footprint Network popularized the concept of the water footprint as a structured indicator.

From a regulatory perspective, the international technical reference is ISO 14046, which establishes the principles for assessing water footprint under a life cycle assessment approach.

In packaging, this is especially relevant because:

• Paper and cardboard production is water intensive.
• Polymers may incorporate water impacts in their upstream value chain.
• The impact varies depending on the location of each plant.

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Why do packaging companies need specific software to calculate their water footprint?

Because calculating the water footprint in packaging is complex, decentralized and time-consuming if managed manually.

Companies in this sector often operate multiple plants, different industrial processes and handle a high volume of water invoices and consumption data. Collecting, consolidating and manually uploading this information leads to errors, inconsistencies and reporting delays.

They must also consider:

• Water impact in the supply chain
• Regional water stress factors
• Reporting requirements under CSRD (ESRS E3)
• Information requests from clients and retailers
  

That is why they need dedicated software that automates data capture. In Manglai’s case, the platform uses AI to read water invoices and consumption documents, extracting data in seconds and avoiding manual input.

In a multi-plant environment, automation is not a luxury — it is an operational necessity.

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What criteria should you use to choose water footprint software for packaging?

Choosing the right software determines the accuracy, auditability and strategic value of your water footprint assessment.

Here are the essential criteria to consider:

• Methodological alignment: The software must align with ISO 14046, apply a life cycle assessment approach and be prepared for CSRD (ESRS E3) reporting.
• Ability to model real industrial operations: It should differentiate production processes (paper, cardboard, plastic), allocate consumption by line or plant and incorporate regional water stress factors.
• Automated data capture: In multi-plant environments, the system must be able to automatically import and process invoices and consumption records. If it depends on constant manual uploads, it becomes a bottleneck.
• Supply chain management: It should allow integration of raw material and supplier data, since a large share of the water footprint in packaging lies upstream.
• Operational usability: If only an external consultant can use it, it is not an industrial management tool. Internal teams must be able to analyze and update data easily.
• Multi-plant scalability: It must perform equally well in a pilot plant and across an international industrial network.
• Actionable reporting: The value lies not only in calculating the footprint, but in translating data into operational decisions, investment prioritization and risk reduction.

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What is the best software to manage the water footprint in packaging companies?

1. Manglai

Manglai is designed for industrial companies and packaging manufacturers that need to calculate and manage their water footprint without adding technical complexity to daily operations.

It is particularly suitable for multi-plant organizations that want to integrate water management into their standard processes — production, finance and sustainability — without relying continuously on external consultants or specialized LCA teams.

Manglai goes beyond one-off calculations. It enables continuous water impact management, helping teams identify:

• Which plant faces the highest water stress
• Which industrial process has the greatest impact
• Which raw materials increase the footprint
• How new regulations affect a specific locationç

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This is possible thanks to the Manglai AI Copilot, which allows users to interact with the platform through natural language questions such as:

• Which plant has the highest water risk?
• Which supplier increases my impact the most?
• How does new regulation in Mexico affect my production?
  
  

Instead of generating static reports, the platform turns environmental data into actionable intelligence for operations, finance and ESG committees.

Its ability to automatically import invoices and consumption records through AI drastically reduces administrative burden in multi-plant environments — a critical factor in packaging.

Implementation is agile, allowing companies to obtain a consolidated first view within a short timeframe and turning water footprint management into a real industrial decision-making tool.

Live Water Footprint

Live Water Footprint is a specialized solution focused on technically robust water footprint calculations aligned with international standards.

It is particularly suitable for organizations seeking methodological rigor and structured LCA-based approaches.

Strengths: precision and methodological consistency.

Limitations: typically more focused on calculation than on multi-plant operational integration or broader ESG reporting. Implementation in complex industrial environments may require additional technical support.

Waterplan

Waterplan positions itself as a strategic water risk management platform, helping companies understand their exposure to water stress and plan mitigation actions.

It is especially useful for international organizations analyzing physical water risks across geographies.

Strengths: strong strategic and risk-based perspective.

Limitations: may not go as deep into detailed industrial LCA modeling or plant-level operational data capture.

Dcycle

Dcycle is an ESG platform offering environmental measurement capabilities, including water-related indicators.

It is designed for companies looking to centralize multiple ESG metrics within a single digital environment and simplify regulatory compliance.

Strengths: ESG metric integration and simplification.

Limitations: less specialized in deep industrial water footprint modeling under ISO 14046, particularly in highly complex packaging environments.

Aqualia

Aqualia is a company specialized in integrated water cycle management, with extensive technical and operational expertise in water resources.

It can provide deep knowledge in water efficiency and management services.

Strengths: operational and infrastructure expertise.

Limitations: its core focus is not multi-plant ESG software for industrial manufacturers, which may limit suitability for detailed footprint calculation and reporting needs in packaging companies.

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How to start managing the water footprint in your packaging company

Getting started does not require transforming every plant or redesigning processes from day one.

With a progressive approach and the right tools, it is possible to measure water impact, identify key risks and move toward more efficient and resilient management.

• Define the objective:  Determine whether your priority is CSRD compliance, responding to client demands, reducing water stress risk or improving operational efficiency.
• Select a pilot plant:  Start with a representative facility — by volume, location or consumption level — to validate the approach.
• Gather essential data:  Collect core information on water consumption, industrial processes and critical raw materials. Consistency matters more than initial perfection.
• Run a first measurement:  Establish a baseline result to identify where the greatest impact lies.
• Identify critical points:  Analyze which plants operate in high water stress areas, which processes consume the most water and which suppliers drive upstream impact.
• Scale progressively:  Once validated, expand to other plants and integrate the data into your ESG strategy and industrial planning.

The key is not maximum complexity at the beginning, but building a solid foundation that turns water management into a long-term competitive advantage.

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From regulatory compliance to water competitiveness

In the packaging sector, water is a critical input. Without water, there is no paper, cardboard or certain plastics production. Water risk is therefore a real operational risk.

Droughts, regulatory restrictions or rising water costs can trigger production stoppages, cost overruns and loss of competitiveness. Non-compliance may also result in sanctions and damage relationships with major clients.

The impact is also financial. Investors and financial institutions increasingly assess exposure to physical water risks. Poor water risk management can affect access to capital and financing conditions.

Measuring and managing the water footprint is not just about compliance — it is about safeguarding business continuity, reducing costs and strengthening competitive positioning.

Is your packaging company ready for 2026 reporting?

Do not let LCA complexity slow you down.

At Manglai, we help industrial companies automate their water footprint management in weeks.

Schedule a personalized demo.

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Frequently asked questions about water footprint software

Is it mandatory to calculate the water footprint?

Not always directly, but it may be necessary to comply with ESG reporting requirements under the CSRD.

Can it be calculated without supplier data?

It is possible using estimates, but this reduces precision and auditability.

Is water footprint the same as water consumption?

No. The water footprint considers regional impact and a full life cycle assessment approach.