footprintanalyser

FootprintAnalyser is an open‑source software application designed to quantify and visualise the environmental impacts of products, services, or organisational activities. It integrates life‑cycle assessment (LCA) methodology with a user‑friendly interface, allowing analysts to import data sets, select impact categories (such as global warming potential, water use, or resource depletion) and generate detailed reports. The tool supports several data standards, including the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) and the ecoinvent database, and can import CSV, Excel or JSON files.

Developed originally in 2015 by a consortium of academic researchers and sustainability consultants, FootprintAnalyser is written in Python and relies on libraries such as pandas for data handling and Matplotlib for charting. The core calculation engine follows the ISO 14040/44 framework, applying midpoint and endpoint impact assessment methods like ReCiPe and TRACI. Users can customise weighting factors, adjust system boundaries, and run scenario analyses to compare alternative design options.

FootprintAnalyser is distributed under the MIT License, encouraging modification and redistribution. It is hosted on a public code repository where contributors can submit issues, propose enhancements, and participate in peer review. Documentation includes a step‑by‑step user guide, API reference, and a collection of case studies illustrating applications in manufacturing, construction, and food supply chains.

The software is frequently cited in academic literature on sustainability assessment and has been incorporated into curricula for environmental engineering and management courses. Ongoing development focuses on expanding database compatibility, improving computational performance, and adding web‑based visualisation tools.