Key Takeaways
- Carbon emissions are universal, produced by everything from city transport and airports to industrial machinery and heavy-duty vehicles.
- Diesel trucks contribute significantly to global emissions, often releasing 100–200 g of CO₂ per km, adding up to several tons annually depending on usage.
- Despite the water-based cleaning method, each SMETS truck still generates 85–110 tons of CO₂ across its full lifecycle due to manufacturing, fuel use, and end-of-life factors.
- Econetix calculates an estimated lifecycle footprint using the assumptions applied in the assessment, including 10 years of expected operation. Any carbon credits are reported separately from that footprint and do not change the truck’s underlying lifecycle emissions.
- The carbon credits are reported separately from the truck lifecycle footprint; they do not change the truck’s underlying lifecycle emissions.
- Act now to achieve net zero gives companies a competitive advantage, stronger ESG performance, and positions them as leaders in a net-zero future
Carbon emissions are everywhere, from the bustling streets to the skies over major airports, to the factories and homes that power our daily lives. Even the smallest machines, from generators to construction equipment, contribute to the carbon footprint shaping our planet’s future.Among these contributors, trucks and heavy machinery play a significant role. A study on European road vehicles reports that heavy-duty diesel vehicles emit in the range of 129 to over 1000 g CO₂/km, adding up to several tons of carbon emissions each year depending on usage. These numbers make clear that even essential equipment has an environmental cost.
SMETS Technology & Their Environmental Commitment
SMETS Technology is a German manufacturer of road cleaning, road marking removal, and runway cleaning trucks, delivering high-performance equipment
across the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Their trucks use pure water power for cleaning — this innovative approach eliminates the need for chemicals or abrasives, reducing environmental impact and supporting cleaner, more sustainable operations. However, the vehicles themselves are diesel-powered, so emissions during manufacturing and operation are still unavoidable.
Working together, Econetix calculates the full carbon footprint of each SMETS truck upfront covering manufacturing, expected operation, and end-of-life. This total footprint is then offset at the very beginning through verified carbon credits, with the purchase of verified carbon credits reported separately from the truck’s underlying lifecycle emissions. In this case study, the working lifecycle estimate for a SMETS truck is 85–110 tonnes of CO₂e across 10 years of expected use; actual emissions depend on operating conditions, fuel use, maintenance and end-of-life assumptions. Based on this data, Econetix can support ongoing emissions monitoring and, where appropriate, separately documented carbon-credit contributions. Compliance depends on the applicable rules and the customer’s specific use case. This enables SMETS to disclose the calculated footprint and any associated climate contribution separately and transparently over the operating period.
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Success Through Partnership
Through its collaboration with Econetix, SMETS Technology has combined road and runway cleaning technology with transparent lifecycle carbon accounting and measurable business outcomes. The programme provides clients with lifecycle emissions information and separately documented carbon-credit contributions; those contributions do not reduce the clients’ underlying Scope 3 emissions. SMETS reports that the sustainability documentation supported commercial discussions with clients in the region.
Emission & Offset Cycle
The figure illustrates the carbon emission and offset cycle for a single truck. This provides a complete view of how emissions are tracked, balanced, and neutralized through verified carbon credits.
Sascha Smets, COO of SMETS Technology, explains:
“With Econetix, we know exactly how much CO₂ our trucks produce and can offset it completely. This means our customers can use our equipment for a decade with zero net emissions — a compelling sustainability advantage for airports and infrastructure projects.”
Long-Term Impact Through Continuous Monitoring
By continuing this partnership, SMETS can achieve an even greater long-term impact. Regular emissions monitoring and periodic offsetting not only support ongoing sustainability goals but also deliver a strong competitive advantage, positioning SMETS as one of the first in the region to provide road and runway cleaning solutions with documented lifecycle carbon accounting.
Take Action Today
Credible emissions management is increasingly important for competitiveness, compliance, and long-term resilience. Companies that act today position themselves ahead of tightening regulations, rising customer expectations, and global sustainability benchmarks. Just as SMETS has demonstrated, proactively calculating emissions, reducing them where feasible, and reporting any separate climate contribution transparently can strengthen decision-making and market credibility. Measure, reduce and transparently report emissions from high-emission assets, strengthen your ESG performance, and lead your industry into a cleaner, more sustainable future. Now is the time to act, for your business, your customers, and the planet.
See how Econetix can support you or your organization on the path to net-zero
