Best software for waste footprint management

Waste management is no longer just an operational issue: it has become a key indicator of environmental performance and an increasingly relevant component of corporate reporting under European regulation.

In a context where the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the EU Taxonomy demand transparency in material and waste treatment, having dedicated software to calculate and report your waste footprint is now essential.

These tools enable organisations to quantify, classify and communicate their waste according to consistent and verifiable criteria, in line with standards such as ISO 14040, ISO 14044 and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) frameworks.

In this article, we review the best software currently available on the market and explain how to choose the most suitable solution to integrate waste footprint management into your sustainability strategy.

What is the waste footprint and why should it be measured?

The waste footprint represents the total volume of waste generated by an organisation, distinguishing its source, composition and final destination. This indicator goes beyond measuring tonnes: it assesses the environmental impact and efficiency of waste management processes, from generation to recovery or disposal.

Measuring the waste footprint is essential for three main reasons:

1. Regulatory compliance: the CSRD and the EU Taxonomy require companies in scope to report the quantity of waste generated, its hazardousness and the percentage directed to recycling, recovery or landfill.
2. Operational optimisation: it helps identify processes that produce the largest waste volumes and design reduction and reuse strategies.
3. Transparency and reputation: communicating reliable, auditable data strengthens credibility with investors, clients and regulators.

Measuring the waste footprint not only improves traceability but also drives the transition toward circular business models. For more detail on the operational side, you can consult our overview of waste management with Manglai.

To understand how this measurement integrates with broader methodologies, we recommend reading our article on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

What criteria should you use to choose waste footprint management software?

Selecting the right software determines the quality and reliability of your analysis and reporting.

The most advanced tools share six essential characteristics:

1. Methodological rigour: they should be based on international standards such as ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, ensuring full traceability of material and waste flows throughout the life cycle.

2. ESG reporting integration: data must be exportable in formats compatible with CSRD, GRI 306 (Waste) or circular economy indicators.

3. Classification and traceability: the software should categorise waste by type (hazardous/non-hazardous), treatment (reuse, recycling, energy recovery or landfill) and location.

4. Usability and automation: the interface should allow automatic data imports from ERP systems, Excel sheets or IoT sensors, minimising human error.

5. Scalability: it must adapt to both single-site operations and multinational organisations with multiple production facilities.

6. Visual and verifiable reporting: results should be displayed through clear, comparable dashboards ready for auditing.

What is the best software for analysing and reporting the waste footprint?

Choosing the right software for analysing and reporting your waste footprint is key to ensuring reliable, comparable and auditable data. It's not only about regulatory compliance: it's about using a tool that enhances traceability, automates data collection and simplifies ESG reporting.

In this section, we compare the leading solutions on the market, with Manglai leading the way, and explain the advantages each offers depending on your organisation's needs.

1. Manglai: integrated reporting and full traceability

Manglai is a Spanish environmental management platform that combines waste footprint, carbon footprint and water footprint within a single environment.

Key advantages:

• Methodology aligned with ISO 14040 and 14044: enables analysis of waste flows within the context of the corporate life cycle.
• Multi-site management: collects and standardises data from different plants or branches.
• Advanced visualisation: interactive dashboards display trends by waste type, treatment method or supplier.
• Integration with CSRD and GRI 306 reporting: exports results directly in formats prepared for audits or ESG reports.
• Document traceability: allows attachment of waste manager certificates and movement records, reducing compliance risks.

In addition, Manglai simplifies the communication of results through automated, verifiable reports, reducing administrative workload and preventing common spreadsheet errors.

This proposition is backed by real traction: Manglai has active clients in 70 countries, more than 30,000 users and 25 million tonnes of CO2e managed, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.

In short, it is a very complete option for companies seeking a robust, scalable and transparent reporting system, without relying on external tools or custom developments.

2. SimaPro: analytical power and technical depth

Developed by PRé Sustainability, SimaPro is one of the most advanced solutions for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and waste quantification.

Its strength lies in its ability to model complex flows and connect production, transport and end-of-life data.

Advantages:

• Broad compatibility with databases such as Ecoinvent.
• Accurate, exportable calculations for advanced sustainability studies.

Considerations:

• Highly technical interface with a steep learning curve.
• Ideal for consultancies or companies with in-house LCA analysts.

3. Sphera LCA for Experts (formerly GaBi): advanced analysis for large organisations

Sphera LCA for Experts, formerly known as GaBi, offers life cycle assessment and material flow analysis capabilities within its sustainability portfolio. Its focus is on industrial companies that require detailed control of material inputs and outputs.

Advantages:

• Enables modelling of recycling and recovery scenarios.
• Extensive life cycle databases.

Considerations:

• High licensing costs and the need for specialised training.

4. One Click LCA: ideal for construction and manufacturing sectors

One Click LCA allows the calculation of waste impacts associated with construction materials and industrial processes, following EN 15804 and the PEF approach.

Advantages:

• Templates for Environmental Product Declarations (EPD).
• Results compatible with circularity and waste management metrics.

Considerations:

• Sector-specific approach; less versatile for service or retail companies.

5. CircularIQ: focus on circularity and supply chain

CircularIQ is a tool focused on assessing corporate circularity and supplier-level waste footprints.

Advantages:

• Collects waste data generated by partners and contractors.
• Visualises circular performance across every stage of the supply chain.

Considerations:

• Requires active supplier collaboration to obtain complete data.

6. Ecochain: practical and collaborative measurement

Ecochain simplifies waste and emissions measurement for small and medium-sized industrial companies.

Advantages:

• Intuitive interface with dashboards by plant or product.
• Results exportable to ESG reports.

Considerations:

• Data coverage may vary depending on the sector.

7. openLCA: technical and open-source option

openLCA offers a free, flexible approach for conducting environmental analyses, including waste footprint assessments.

Advantages:

• Open-source software adaptable to various projects.
• Compatible with various waste databases.

Considerations:

• Requires technical expertise and manual configuration.

How to start measuring and reporting the waste footprint

Measuring and reporting the waste footprint doesn't have to be a complex process.

With a structured methodology and the right tool, any company can gain a clear view of its waste flows and environmental impact.

The goal is not only to comply with regulations but to integrate this information into the corporate sustainability strategy, improve operational efficiency and move toward more circular models.

Here are the essential steps to implement a reliable measurement and reporting system aligned with international standards and the CSRD:

1. Define the scope: determine whether you will analyse all facilities or only key operational areas.

2. Classify the waste: identify categories based on hazardousness, origin and treatment type.

3. Collect generation and destination data: integrate internal records, authorised manager data and recovery certificates.

4. Calculate indicators: the software should convert data into standardised metrics (kg of waste, % recycled, recovery ratio).

5. Analyse trends and set targets: evaluate the evolution over time and define reduction or circularity goals.

6. Report and communicate results: generate auditable reports aligned with CSRD or GRI standards.

With Manglai, these steps are simplified through guided workflows and automated dashboards that unify information from all sites, facilitating both decision-making and external verification.

Digitalising waste management: a key step toward the circular economy

Accurately measuring the waste footprint is an essential part of corporate environmental performance.

It's not only about compliance but about transforming the company's relationship with materials and resources.

Using specialised software ensures traceable data, auditable reports and evidence-based decision-making.

Manglai is a very complete solution for companies seeking to integrate waste management into their ESG strategy, combining technical rigour, automation and a life-cycle perspective.

If your organisation wants to move toward more circular and transparent management, discover how the Manglai waste management module can help you measure and report your footprint with precision, and how it integrates with CSRD reporting.

FAQs about how to choose the best waste footprint software

What's the difference between waste footprint and waste management?

While waste management focuses on treatment operations, the waste footprint quantifies the overall impact and efficiency of those operations from an environmental standpoint.

Is it mandatory to calculate the waste footprint?

Not directly, but the CSRD and EU Taxonomy include waste data as part of environmental performance reporting for companies in scope.

Which international standards apply?

The main references are ISO 14040, ISO 14044 and GRI 306 (Waste).

Can I integrate the waste footprint with carbon or water footprints?

Yes. Tools like Manglai allow simultaneous analysis of all three indicators to provide a holistic view of environmental impact.

How long does it take to implement waste footprint software?

It depends on the company's size and level of digitalisation. With Manglai, initial results can be obtained in just a few weeks.