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 environmentally friendly 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 the full lifecycle footprint upfront, covering 10 years of expected operation, and offsets the entire amount immediately through certified carbon credits.
- This upfront offsetting enables SMETS to sell trucks as fully carbon-neutral assets from day one, giving clients immediate sustainability benefits.
- 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 leading 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, allowing SMETS to sell each truck to airports as a fully carbon-neutral asset from day one. A single SMETS truck is calculated to produce 85–110 tons of CO₂ across 10 years of use, a significant footprint that Econetix monitors continuously. Based on this data, we track emissions and provide periodic carbon credit solutions to ensure each truck remains offset and compliant throughout its operational life. This enables SMETS to offer equipment that is completely carbon neutral for 10 years.
Success Through Partnership
Through its collaboration with Econetix, SMETS Technology has not only pioneered carbon-neutral road and runway cleaning solutions but also achieved measurable business success. By providing clients with fully offset trucks, SMETS enabled airports and infrastructure operators in Dubai, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi to significantly reduce their Scope 3 emissions from suppliers. This practical, verifiable impact on client sustainability has strengthened SMETS’ market position, helping close high-profile deals across the region and demonstrating the commercial value of proactive carbon management.
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 fully carbon-neutral road and runway cleaning solutions.
Take Action Today
The journey toward carbon neutrality is no longer optional, it is a defining factor in 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 and offsetting emissions not only reduces environmental impact but also unlocks a powerful market advantage. Transform high-emission assets into certified carbon-neutral solutions, 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
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