Our commitments

Working safely and sustainably

Sustainable business is an adventure, not a destination. And our people are our driving force. Ensuring they can work safely and sustainably is our top priority.

Our longest-running project? Becoming a 100% sustainable company. For 125 years, we’ve been striving to improve people’s lives and society. But honestly, that’s just an ambition. We’re already taking a tremendous number of sustainable steps—often without even thinking twice about it.

Our focus? We always start with the three SDGs that are most closely linked to our work.

Sustainability expressed in figures

Sustainability is woven into every aspect of our operations. In early 2023, we began assessing our carbon footprint. Curious about our progress?

  • Check out our sustainable alternative to cement on the SKAO platform (Foundation for Climate-Friendly Procurement and Business).
  • Please refer to our progress reports under the CO2 Performance Ladder:
Read our 2025 CO2 Performance Ladder Progress Report here
2024 Progress Report
2023 Progress Report
2022 Progress Report

Work safety comes first

“Safety isn’t about control or the absence of danger, but the presence of connection.”

In addition to our VCA and ISO certifications, we are actively working to foster a safety culture. For example, starting in 2025, our Foundations team will already be at Level 3 on the Safety Culture Ladder. Our Tunnelling team also aims to improve its current Level 3—achieved in 2018—to meet the Dutch standard. Today, our Tunnelling team is already a frontrunner within our company: they have been working for 1.5 years without any lost time accidents.

Internally, we proactively use toolbox meetings when working in certain conditions. Every workday begins per definition with a pre-shift meeting. Should a hazardous situation arise, any colleague can report it via an app, and we respond promptly. Through a training programme for prevention advisors, we also aim to train more people to keep a critical eye on safety.

Safety awards

Working safely is rewarded. Every year, our employees receive awards and certificates for their dedication. Curious about our achievements?

View Smet-F&C's SCL certificate here
View Smet-Tunnelling's SCL certificate here

Job opportunities for every talented person

“Use all your talents. It would be very quiet in the forest if only the best bird sang and the rest just listened.”

Talent in the construction industry is often still hidden. We want to become more visible through our partnership with organizations such as Talentenwerf. They help job seekers develop digital skills and learn on the job … Those selected are then trained on-site to become construction workers and can later advance to become drill supervisors or foremen.

Did you notice the well-maintained green spaces around our headquarters? Lidwina vzw, a company promoting professional integration, maintains our green spaces throughout the year. They also manufacture dewatering filters for our construction sites in their own workshop.

Traveling responsibly from A to B

“Don’t try to be the fastest, but rather the one heading in the right direction.”

Recently, Funderingen teams have stopped driving and started biking to their accommodations during their workweek away from the office. Our office staff can also count on receiving the maximum mileage reimbursement when they bike to work.

Are you coming to our offices in an electric car? No problem—we have charging stations available. All of our employees with company cars are making the switch to reliable electric vehicles.

Do more with less energy

"If you do the little things in a big way, they become big things."

Our machines are tested and optimized to ensure they last much longer than before. Together with our long-standing suppliers, we aim to remain pioneers. For example, this year we were able to reduce the energy consumption of our foundation-driving machines by 30–40 percent.

We’re not afraid of large-scale renovation projects. In fact, they inspire us to use our innovative thinking to turn that challenge into something achievable. From a quay wall to a museum turned into a hotel—there’s nothing we shy away from. Did you know that, using our foundation techniques on the Scheldt quays, we’re able to preserve the basic method dating back to the 18th century?

We’re replacing the old, noisy heat pumps on building roofs with a geothermal system that offers a remarkably high COP. Did you know that we’re going to power our headquarters in Dessel entirely with geothermal energy starting in 2027?

Building to last

"A new opportunity often first presents itself as an unsolvable problem."

When dealing with aging underground pipes, we deliberately choose polyester liners to rehabilitate them. Such a liner has a service life of 40 years, compared to the alternative—a concrete pipe—which lasts only half as long. Furthermore, this trenchless technique causes far less disruption to the surrounding area: minimal noise, no street excavation, and significantly less transportation.

New water treatment plants are more compact and energy-efficient than in the past. Furthermore, they contain very few chemicals, such as chlorine.

Standing up for fellow humans and animals

“Helping an organization may not change the world, but it can change the world for one person.”

Throw away laptops after five years? We don’t do that. We give them a second life: at Ons Huis in Mol. They provide people living in poverty with opportunities to develop their digital skills. In this way, these wonderful people build self-confidence as they work toward a more independent and comfortable life.

Every year, we organize our own inclusive sports event, “Smet (S)miles.” Through this event, we’ve already raised funds for 160 trees for a nature reserve in our region. And this year, by exercising together, we supported the Unco Jerry Kempen vzw animal shelter, because our dogs deserve a warm home, too!

*quotes adapted from *Omdenken*

Winner in 2026

Voka Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship

For three years in a row, we have participated in the Voka Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship: an annual programme in which we set specific sustainability goals linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. An independent panel evaluates each year whether we are effectively implementing those goals.

This year, we received the charter as a laureate. This isn’t the end goal, but it does confirm that we’re on the right track. On our way to becoming pioneers!

Curious about what we can do for each other?

Contact us