Annual Report 2025

Microplastics

Material impact and their interaction with strategy and business model

IMPACT IN THE AREA OF MICROPLASTICS

Description Impact/Risk/ Opportunity Actual/Potential Impact Value Chain Time Horizon

Microplastics

Tire abrasion in particular can cause microplastics to enter the environment. This affects vehicles in general, including those produced by the Volkswagen Group.

Opportunity

Positive
Impact

Actual Impact

Upstream
Value Chain

Short-term
Time Horizon
(< 1 year)

Risk

Negative
Impact

Potential Impact

Own Operation

Medium-term
Time Horizon
(1–5 years)

Downstream
Value Chain

Long-term
Time Horizon
(> 5 years)

Interaction with strategy and business model

The topic of microplastics has an overarching position of the nature dimension in the Group sustainability strategy regenerate+, which also considers the reduction of microplastics. The detailed formulation of the topic is currently still in the development phase and will be defined in greater detail in the course of the further strategy processes.