Sustainability Report – Environmental Information

Material Impacts, Risks and Opportunities Related to Emissions and Substances

Continental assessed its actual and potential negative and positive impacts as well as abstract and tangible risks and opportunities related to emissions and substances according to the regulatory requirements, as described in the General Disclosures (ESRS 2) section. The disclosures include an overview of the assessment of all identified impacts, risks and opportunities (IROs), including the time horizons considered.

In this IRO assessment, the main impacts, risks and opportunities related to emissions and substances (in accordance with ESRS E2 Pollution) were identified. For easier understanding and reading, they have been grouped together into the following IRO clusters:

• Product-related aspects regarding environmental protection
• Substances of concern and very high concern
• Environmental protection in the supply chain
• Environmental protection in own operations

The descriptions of potential negative impacts and abstract risks are presented from a business-inherent perspective. They outline general impact potentials and risk exposures based on structural aspects such as business activity, geographical aspects, business model and product characteristics. This does not take into account mitigation through the management approach of Continental described in the respective IRO cluster. Actual negative impacts, tangible risks, positive impacts and opportunities are described from a company-specific perspective and consider the outcomes of the management approaches. A detailed definition of the IRO types can be found in the Impact materiality and Financial materiality subsections in the General Disclosures (ESRS 2) section. The description of IROs are to be considered as self-contained, which may result in repetitions.

The following pages provide detailed descriptions of the IROs within the respective IRO cluster. They also outline the management approach developed for each IRO cluster, which manages the identified impacts, risks and opportunities. In addition, the associated targets, actions and metrics are explained (where available).

Product-Related Aspects Regarding Environmental Protection

Material impacts, risks and opportunities in the product-related aspects regarding environmental protection IRO cluster

ID		Short description	Type of IRO		Primary time horizon			Explanation
14		Pollution in the use phase	Potential negative impact		Short-term			Continental’s products are used in a wide range of industries and are installed in vehicles and machines. This results in inherent direct and indirect potential negative impacts related to pollution in the use phase. Potential impacts directly related to the products could arise in particular from the generation of tire and road wear particles (TRWP) during vehicle use, the concrete effects of which are still the subject of scientific research. Potential impacts indirectly related to the products could occur as a result of industrial processes in which the products are used or the use of vehicles in which the products are installed. These can include air, water and soil pollution (e.g. vehicle exhaust emissions or process-related emissions in industrial applications).
15		Sanctions in connection with pollution in the use phase	Abstract and tangible risk		Medium-term			Continental’s products are used in a wide range of industries and are installed in vehicles and machines that are or could be subject to existing or future regulatory emission requirements. This applies in particular to non-tailpipe-related emissions such as tire and road wear particles (TRWP). This results in an industry-inherent exposure to possible effects that may arise from existing regulations or significant tightening. Consequently, in the event of violations of existing or future regulatory requirements related to emissions in the product use phase, Continental could face sanctions, including fines and penalties, or temporary interruption of the respective business operation. For tire manufacturers, current and potential proceedings in individual markets pose a tangible risk.
16		Loss of sales in connection with our products and pollution	Abstract risk		Long-term			Continental’s products are used in a wide range of industries and are installed in vehicles and machines that are or could be subject to existing or future regulatory emission requirements. This applies in particular to non-tailpipe-related emissions such as tire and road wear particles (TRWP). This results in an industry-inherent exposure to possible effects that may arise from significant tightening of such regulations. If these regulatory changes focus on emissions in the product use phase and evolve faster than the portfolio can be adapted, this could lead to sales losses for the affected product segments.
17		Growth due to pollution regulations	Opportunity		Medium-term			Continental’s product portfolio serves markets in which emissions in the use phase of products are increasingly regulated (e.g. vehicle emission limits or tire labeling requirements). In these markets, this could create general potentials for additional sales growth and new business as well as competitive differentiation, which may also positively affect achievable margins. Based on its portfolio orientation and existing management approaches, Continental assumes to be able to leverage these opportunities.

Management approach for product-related aspects regarding environmental protection

Continental is convinced that mobility and the global economy must be cleaner to protect ecosystems, supporting their resilience and regeneration. As part of our sustainability ambition, we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment by implementing preventive measures to reduce pollution during the use phase of our products.

Accordingly, Continental has implemented a specific management approach to support the transition of our industries, reduce negative environmental impacts in the product use phase, comply with regulations and at the same time support opportunities for growth in specific business activities. In this way, Continental assumes responsibility for the environmental impacts of its products.

Regarding tire and road wear particles in particular, Continental is working to address open scientific questions about these non-tailpipe-related emissions, including their formation, composition, transport and fate in the environment. Continental is helping to expand the base of scientifically sound knowledge about their impacts on the environment and human health, as these impacts are not yet fully understood.

Therefore, it is important to note that, according to current knowledge, tire and road wear will always occur in order to enable controlled and safe acceleration and braking as well as stable cornering. These combined particles consist of approximately 50% tread material and approximately 50% road surface material. Our efforts are focused on increasing the mileage of our tires and reducing tire wear particles while at the same making our tires as ecologically compatible as possible, without compromising on noise emissions and safety-critical performance features.

The management approach focuses on the direct emissions generated by our products from the Tires group sector. Indirect emissions, particularly those resulting from the use of our products in vehicles, are largely influenced by vehicle manufacturers and the usage behavior of end-customers. Consequently, they are subject to varying speeds of transformation among our customers and across their different industries and markets.

Responsibility for implementing actions to reduce emissions, complying with legal requirements and economic aspects lies with the respective group sector or responsible entity. They are supported by various central departments, including product development, sustainability, technical compliance and quality. Oversight is ultimately provided by the group sector decision bodies as well as Continental’s Executive Board.

The general processes of the management approach include among other things market research, research and development activities, active portfolio management and close dialogue with customers – as also described in the management approach for Scope 3 emissions, value chain resilience and transition in the Climate Change (ESRS E1) section.

The specific management processes for non-tailpipe-related emissions such as tire and road wear particles especially include R&D activities and collaborations with industry associations, universities, scientific institutions and customers to continuously expand the understanding of tire and road wear particle formation and its behavior in the environment. One example for such a cooperation is the OLRAP project (Online analysis of airborne tyre abrasion particles during formation and differentiation from particles of other origins) with the Technical University of Braunschweig and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture. In the reporting year, a vehicle fitted with special measuring equipment collected large amounts of real-time data on the origin of even the finest airborne particles (from tires, road surfaces or brakes), which were correlated with factors such as driving dynamics, road surface and weather conditions. Other examples include collaboration with the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for Euro 7 (relevant from 2026) as well as ongoing research as part of the Tire Industry Project (TIP).

In addition, Continental researches and develops within R&D and product development processes, such as product life cycle management, technical innovations and solutions to continuously reduce tire-related emissions and comply with increasing regulations. These product development processes also address economic feasibility, market readiness and scalability of solutions, as well as collaboration with customers, suppliers and other stakeholders such as universities.

With regard to tire and road wear particles, Continental’s development engineers and material experts are working particularly on adapting tire construction and compound composition to reduce wear and, consequently environmental impacts are reduced without compromising on safety- or performance-related properties of the tires. Here improving rolling resistance is a focus to minimize abrasion. This also applies to indirect tailpipe-related emissions such as nitrogen oxides and CO2. Further information on this can be found in the management approach for Scope 3 emissions, value chain resilience and transition.

At the same time, Continental is addressing to reduce tire and road noise as much as possible without compromising the safety-related properties of tires, such as braking distances in wet or snowy conditions, or other tire characteristics, such as handling or durability.

To reduce tire and road noise, Continental utilizes its long term tire expertise and state-of-the-art simulation methods. For example, Continental already optimizes tread pattern elements for their acoustic properties early in the development process. A comfortable, unobtrusive noise profile is an important development criterion for Continental’s tire models – without compromising on safety, handling or durability.

Compliance of products with applicable standards, customer requirements and regulations is subject to processes of Continental’s technical compliance and quality management systems.

Progress in these processes can also help Continental in the midterm to generate competitive advantages and capitalize on growth and margin opportunities in the context of evolving product requirements. Progress is measured internally on a systematic basis and can also be compared with respectively evaluated based on the results of independent tire tests on the market. In a recent 2025 ADAC study, tested Continental tires demonstrated 11% lower specific abrasion compared with the average of all competitor tires tested.

Incident and emergency response specific processes are not relevant for the management approach for the downstream value chain resulting from the IROs.

The management approaches are guided by Continental’s technical compliance framework and sustainability ambition. Additional internal rules apply to specific business processes.

Current and future international technical standards, obligations and regulations related to emissions, such as Euro 7, are binding for Continental products. We support the introduction of binding limits for tire abrasion as part of Euro 7. The tire industry advocates for an internationally recognized, reliable, reproducible and representative test standard for abrasion rates, and Continental is participating in its development as part of its membership of the ETRTO and the European tire manufacturers’ association Tyres Europe.

To offer compliant products and reduce emissions, Continental maintains ongoing dialogue with relevant stakeholders such as authorities, customers, scientific institutions or industry associations respectively industry initiatives (e.g. the European tire manufacturers’ association Tyres Europe and the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, USTMA). Notably, Continental contributes to the topic of tire wear in the context of TIP as co-chair and founding member, alongside other leading global tire manufacturers, under the patronage of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

A key element of the communication on topics regarding non-tailpipe-related emissions in the use phase is joint communication through industry projects, such as TIP, and associations. These platforms enable to address scientific findings, regulatory developments and product development progress with relevant stakeholders and to publicize.

Substances of Concern and Very High Concern

Material impacts, risks and opportunities in the substances of concern and very high concern IRO cluster

ID		Short description	Type of IRO		Primary time horizon			Explanation
18		Negative impacts from the use of substances of concern in own operations	Potential negative impact		Short-term			In Continental’s production processes substances are used or contained in mixtures or articles, that are classified by regulations as of (very) high concern. Although they make up only a limited share of the total materials used, in the event of releases or improper handling they inherently carry the potential for negative impacts on human health and the environment due to their properties.
19		Negative impacts from the use of substances of concern in the supply chain	Potential negative impact		Short-term			Continental’s supply chain spans multiple stages of the value chain and includes industries where substances are used, or are contained in mixtures or articles, that are classified by regulations as of (very) high concern. This includes, for example, additives or petrochemical base materials for the production of synthetic rubber or other polymers. In the event of releases or improper handling, these substances could therefore potentially have negative impacts on human health and the environment due to their properties.
20		Sanctions in connection with substances of concern	Abstract risk		Medium-term			Continental processes a wide range of substances that fall or could fall under existing or future regulatory requirements, e.g. in the context of EU chemicals regulations. This results in an industry-inherent exposure to possible effects that may arise from existing regulations or significant tightening. In the event of violations of existing or future regulatory requirements, particularly regarding storage, handling and use of regulated substances, this could lead to fines and penalties or temporary business interruptions.
21		Loss of sales in connection with our portfolio and substances of concern	Abstract risk		Medium-term			Continental processes a wide range of substances that fall or could fall under existing or future regulatory requirements, e.g. in the context of EU chemicals regulations. This results in an industry-inherent exposure to possible effects that may arise if such regulations are significantly tightened. If these regulatory changes relate to the materials in Continental’s products and the regulatory changes evolve faster than the portfolio can be adapted, this could lead to sales losses for the affected product segments.

Management approach for substances of concern and very high concern

Continental has implemented a management approach for handling substances of concern and substances of very high concern to support their safe use, protect employees and the environment, meet legal requirements and start to gradually substitute these substances wherever possible. For companies such as Continental that operate in the chemical industry, it is crucial to observe the correct handling and use of substances of concern and substances of very high concern in production and products. Thus a responsible management of these substances throughout the entire value chain is a given for Continental.

We are convinced that mobility and the global economy must be cleaner to protect ecosystems, supporting their resilience and regeneration. As part of our sustainability ambition, we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment by improving resource efficiency, implementing preventive measures and reducing pollution in our own operations, while fostering these practices along our value chain.

The framework to substitute and minimize the use of substances of concern and very high concern in own operations requires that, whenever hazardous chemicals are used, it is to be assessed whether less hazardous alternatives or substitutes are available.
The handling of substances of very high concern in the supply chain is largely regulated in the management approach for environmental protection in the supply chain. Our Business Partner Code of Conduct also formulates the expectation that our direct suppliers establish responsible management for substances of (very) high concern and chemicals.

Continental’s hazardous substance management covers own operations worldwide, with a particular focus on production sites. It also partly includes certain aspects of the upstream and downstream value chain. The management approach content-wise covers both substances of concern and substances of very high concern.

Responsibility for implementing the management approach for substances of concern and very high concern lies with the management of Continental’s respective entities. The governance framework for managing hazardous substances is primarily defined by the departments for environment, safety and health as well as product development, which are overseen by Continental’s Executive Board and the group sector decision bodies.

The processes for monitoring the management of hazardous substances are integrated into the overall environmental and occupational safety and health management system, as described in the management approaches for environmental protection in own operations in this section as well as occupational safety and health in the Own Workforce (ESRS S1) section. Preventive measures for substances of concern are implemented at the location level and include identifying hazardous substances, maintaining hazardous substance inventories and safely using and storing these substances.

Continental’s processes for substances of concern also include some upstream and downstream value chain aspects, such as integration into general procurement processes, approval or restriction of procured substances, product and process development as well as placing compliant and safe products on the market (see also the management approach for technical (product-related) compliance in the Consumers and End-Users (ESRS S4) section). The implementation of these rules is regularly reviewed, for example through internal ESH audits.

Continental’s framework for managing substances of concern consists of a set of environmental, occupational health and safety rules at various organizational levels, as well as the sustainability ambition, ESH policy and corresponding RVC commitments (see the Environmental protection in the supply chain subsection).

The environmental, occupational health and safety management systems are based on the international standards ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, which also include standards for hazardous substance management. In addition, Continental complies with the delegated acts resulting from the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) as well as with all other relevant delegated acts for the substances of concern and very high concern that we use. The Global Automotive Declarable Substance List (GADSL) is also applied, and the International Material Data System (IMDS) is used accordingly.

Continental involves relevant stakeholders in its environmental, occupational health and safety management, which also includes consultations with local stakeholders such as authorities, employees or communities.

Continental’s ESH policy and sustainability ambitions are communicated to the public via the company website. For internal communication, training materials and additional guidelines (such as emergency plans) are available. Continental communicates and trains the implementation of the rules via ESH managers within the group sectors.

Metrics related to substances of concern and very high concern

The reported amounts of substances of concern and very high concern decreased significantly, primarily due to the spin-off of the former Automotive and Contract Manufacturing group sectors.

With respect to the amount of substances of concern, a methodological refinement in the Tires group sector led to a decrease in the amount of substances of concern generated, used or procured during production (health hazard), while the amount of substances classified as hazardous to health leaving the company increased. As a result, the structural effect of the spin-off was offset for the amount of health-hazardous substances of concern leaving the company.

Substances of concern

Substances of concern, in million t	2025	2024
Amount of substances of concern generated, used or procured during production	0.086	0.149
of which health hazard	0.050	0.083
of which environmental hazard	0.036	0.067
Amount of substances of concern leaving the company	0.031	0.047
of which health hazard	0.030	0.016
of which environmental hazard	0.001	0.031

Definitions, assumptions and calculation methods:
General Information

• Substances of concern are defined according to the applicable regulations.
• Hazard classes are assigned in accordance with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for the classification and labeling of chemicals.
• To avoid double counting, substances of concern that belong to both hazard classes are listed under health hazards.

Amount of substances of concern generated, used or procured during production

• The data is collected in part by the locations. The amount for the month of December is extrapolated.
• For the ContiTech group sector, the location-reported data was plausibilized using a representative location.

Amount of substances of concern leaving the company

• In the previous year, two metrics were reported separately: substances of concern leaving the company and substances of concern leaving the company as part of products. Due to the production processes used, there are only substances of concern that leave the facilities as part of products; therefore, the two metrics are identical and were not reported separately in the reporting year.
• For batteries and compressors in the Tires group sector, the amounts of incoming substances correspond to the amounts of outgoing substances, as they are not subject to any further production steps. For tires and bladders, the amounts are calculated based on the documented product compositions and IMDS data. IMDS is a globally standardized exchange and management system for material data in the automotive industry.
• The same assumptions and calculation methods are used for rubber-based products in the ContiTech group sector as in the Tires group sector. The amounts of substances of concern leaving the company are extrapolated using representative products per business area. Based on the variety of relevant chemical processes for products in the Surface Solutions business area, an expert estimate of the average chemical reaction of substances of concern is applied and the amount is calculated. Due to the use of these calculation methods, the figures for the ContiTech group sector are subject to uncertainty.
• The data is collected by the locations. The amount for the month of December is extrapolated.

Substances of very high concern

Substances of very high concern, in million t	2025	2024
Amount of substances of very high concern generated, used or procured during production	0.003	0.006
of which health hazard	0.003	0.006
of which environmental hazard	<0.001	<0.001
Amount of substances of very high concern leaving the company	0.001	0.004
of which hazardous to health	0.001	0.004
of which hazardous to the environment	<0.001	<0.001

Definitions, assumptions and calculation methods:
General Information

• Substances of very high concern are defined according to the applicable regulations.
• Hazard classes are assigned in accordance with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for the classification and labeling of chemicals.
• To avoid double counting, substances of very high concern that belong to both hazard classes are listed under health hazards.

Amount of substances of very high concern generated, used or procured during production

• The data is collected in part by the locations. The amount for the month of December is extrapolated.
• For the ContiTech group sector, the location-reported data was plausibilized using a representative location.

Amount of substances of very high concern leaving the company

• In the previous year, two metrics were reported separately: substances of very high concern leaving the company and substances of very high concern leaving the company as part of products. Due to the production processes used, there are only substances of very high concern that leave the facilities as part of products; therefore, the two metrics are identical and were not reported separately in the reporting year.
• For batteries and compressors in the Tires group sector, the amounts of incoming substances correspond to the amounts of outgoing substances, as they are not subject to any further production steps. For tires and bladders, the amounts are calculated based on the documented product compositions and IMDS data. IMDS is a globally standardized exchange and management system for material data in the automotive industry.
• The same assumptions and calculation methods are used for rubber-based products in the ContiTech group sector as in the Tires group sector. The amounts of substances of concern leaving the company are extrapolated using representative products per business area. Based on the variety of relevant chemical processes for products in the Surface Solutions business area, an estimate of the average chemical reaction of substances of very high concern is applied and the amount is calculated. Due to the use of these calculation methods, the figures for the ContiTech group sector are subject to uncertainty.
• Due to the production processes used, there are only substances of very high concern leaving the company as part of products.
• The data is collected by the locations. The amount for the month of December is extrapolated.

Environmental Protection in the Supply Chain

Material impacts, risks and opportunities in the environmental protection in the supply chain IRO cluster

ID		Short description	Type of IRO		Primary time horizon			Explanation
22		Pollution by the supply chain	Potential negative impact		Short-term			Continental’s supply chain spans multiple stages of the value chain in various industries that extract and produce a wide range of materials, such as carbon black, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, other polymers and metals. These chains carry material process- and industry-inherent potential for negative impacts due to possible pollution of air, water and soil. Even though certain production processes in some of these industries are designed to largely prevent continuous emissions, there remains a potential for unintended releases and associated environmental impacts.

Management approach for environmental protection in the supply chain

Continental is convinced that mobility and the global economy must be cleaner and transition to a circular economy to protect ecosystems, supporting their resilience and regeneration. As part of our sustainability ambition, we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment by improving resource efficiency and implementing preventive measures, while fostering these practices along our value chain. Accordingly, Continental has defined a management approach for environmental protection in the supply chain geared to preventing and reducing potential negative environmental impacts related to pollutant emissions into air, water and soil in the supply chain. As stated in our Business Partner Code of Conduct and RVC commitments (Responsible Value Chain Commitments), Continental expects its suppliers to maintain adequate environmental protection management procedures, including but not limited to air quality, responsible chemical management, soil protection and protection of water bodies.

The management approach applies to all purchasing activities of Continental and its subsidiaries worldwide. The focus of the management approach is on direct suppliers, who are expected to cascade these requirements to their suppliers. Additional specifics of the management approach apply to the natural rubber supply chain, including the deeper supply chain in relation to natural rubber sourcing. See also the management approach for the protection of ecosystems in the supply chain in the Biodiversity and Ecosystems (ESRS E4) section.

The management approach is primarily implemented by Continental’s purchasing departments, which are supported by the environmental and sustainability functions. Oversight is provided through the responsible value chain due diligence system (RVCDDS), including oversight by the Executive Board (see also the management approach for workers in the value chain in the corresponding section (ESRS S2)).

The RVCDDS includes a wide range of processes covering strategy development and implementation, rule management, impact and risk management, case management (including whistleblowing) and training. A multi-level process based on the Three Lines Model has been set up to monitor the effectiveness of the system. For the supply chain, the first line comprises the implementation of operational tasks at the level of individual purchasing functions. The second line, represented by non-operational environmental and purchasing departments and roles, as well as the human rights officer, oversees the system, roles and responsibilities as well as their adequacy and effectiveness. The third line is Continental’s internal audit, which carries out internal audits of the RVCDDS.

Operational tasks include specific preventive and remedial measures regarding the supply chain, such as adjusting procurement strategies and practices, setting contractual agreements and introducing control mechanisms as well as training of purchasers and suppliers. Selected suppliers are assessed based on various criteria using self-assessment questionnaires obtained via the generally accepted sustainability platforms for our industries, such as EcoVadis. In addition, selective on-site audits or other audit activities are carried out, for example to verify the presence of environmental management systems.

As part of an annual review process, the Executive Board of Continental AG is updated on the current status by the Continental Group’s human rights officer and assesses the system’s effectiveness, adequacy and potential for improvement. Furthermore, the RVCDDS is part of Continental’s overarching internal control system, risk management system and compliance management system.

Expectations towards suppliers regarding appropriate environmental protection also include the prevention of incidents and emergency situations.

The outlined processes are defined by an environment-related RVC commitment and supplemented by specific purchasing rules and related work instructions. Direct suppliers are guided by the binding Business Partner Code of Conduct, which also refers to the RVC commitments. For suppliers of natural rubber, Continental’s sustainable natural rubber sourcing policy also applies.

Continental’s management approach for environmental protection in the supply chain is oriented along the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz) and other due diligence standards, such as the UN Guiding Principles and OECD Guidelines.

The interests of stakeholders, such as customers and associations, are taken into account within the management processes.

Continental communicates its management approach through its Public Policy Statement and externally published RVC commitments. Supplier training initiatives are carried out to further promote awareness of shared responsibility along the entire value chain. In addition, direct suppliers are requested to sign the Business Partner Code of Conduct. Communication regarding activities under this management approach is therefore directed at suppliers and other stakeholders relevant to the management approach, such as affected communities.

Environmental Protection in Own Operations

Material impacts, risks and opportunities in the environmental protection in own operations IRO cluster

ID		Short description	Type of IRO		Primary time horizon			Explanation
23		Releases or other environmental incidents in own operations	Potential negative impact		Short-term			Continental operates a wide range of industrial processes involving the processing, transport and storage of chemical substances, oils, adhesives, solvents, refrigerants and other materials. These processes carry material inherent potential for negative impacts, due to possible air, water and soil pollution in the event of unintended releases – for example, due to manual works, leaks or technical defects.

Management approach for environmental protection in own operations

Continental is convinced that mobility and the global economy must be cleaner and transition to a circular economy to protect ecosystems, supporting their resilience and regeneration. As part of our sustainability ambition, we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment by improving resource efficiency, implementing preventive measures and reducing pollution in our own operations. Accordingly, Continental has implemented comprehensive environmental protection actions and environmental management processes in its own operations. These also include actions and processes to prevent or, where necessary, mitigate the identified potential negative impacts from possible releases into air, water and soil. As publicly stated in Continental’s environment, safety and health (ESH) policy, we conserve resources and prevent pollution from emissions into air, water and soil.
Continental’s management approach for environmental protection actions covers own operations worldwide, with a particular focus on production sites.

Responsibility for implementing environmental protection actions and preventing pollution lies with the management of Continental’s respective entities. The internal framework for environmental protection is defined by the environmental departments of Continental and supervised by the Executive Board and the group sector decision bodies.

Procedures and monitoring regarding the prevention and containment of environmental incidents are integrated into the overall environmental management system. Preventive measures are implemented at the location level and include among other aspects emergency plans, site inspections by local ESH managers and regular maintenance plans. Other measures are implemented where they are needed, such as hazardous substance storage, excavation, separators, wastewater treatment or retention basins.

The prevention and containment of environmental incidents or releases of emissions into air, water and soil due to leaks includes site-specific emergency plans that control and limit the impact on people and the environment in case of an actual release. In 2025, the Tires group sector introduced a systematic and structured management system for dealing with environmental incidents with the aim of implementing a holistic approach. That also includes identifying countermeasures for prevention in the future.

Continental’s environmental management framework, including the prevention and containment of environmental incidents, consists of the publicly available ESH policy and related environmental RVC commitments as well as several internal rules at different organizational levels.

Continental’s environmental management, including the prevention and containment of environmental incidents such as leaks, is based on the international environmental management standard ISO 14001. Coverage with certified environmental management systems can be found in the corresponding metric in this section.
Where relevant, local environmental management also includes consultation with local stakeholders such as authorities, employees and communities.

Continental’s ESH policy and related environmental RVC commitments are communicated externally via the website. Additionally, for internal communication purposes, training materials and additional guidelines (as well as emergency plans) are available.

Metrics related to environmental protection in own operations

Certification of Continental plants regarding implemented environmental management systems (ISO 14001 or similar) was continued in the reporting year.

The decrease in coverage of environmental management system certifications (according to ISO 14001) is due to the spin-off of the former Automotive and Contract Manufacturing group sectors, which had a higher average coverage rate, as well as expiring certificates in the ContiTech group sector.

Environmental management system coverage	2025	2024
Environmental management system certifications (ISO 14001), employee coverage (as of December 31), in %	72	77

Definitions, assumptions and calculation methods:

• Includes employees of the Continental Group with a valid and active employment contract as of December 31, 2025. Interns and trainees are not included.
• Valid certifications and completed recertifications are taken into account.
• The data is collected by the locations. A small number of employees who could not be assigned are considered not to be covered. The metric is calculated from the ratio of own workforce working at a certified location to the total number of Continental’s own workforce.
• The metric is entity-specific.