2021 ESG Report ENVIRONMENT Reducing Our Water Use Fifth Third recognizes that water is a community resource and should be managed responsibly. Further, the movement and transport of water typically requires signifcant energy and generates greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing water use has been a key part of Fifth Third’s sustainability eforts. Since we began calculating our water use in 2014, our company-wide consumption is down by more than 100 million gallons. Much of Fifth Third’s water consumption is the result of irrigation that helps maintain landscapes at our retail locations. While we maintain a high standard for exterior spaces, we also work to manage our water use responsibly. With this goal, a smart irrigation program was launched in 2018 to help manage and control exterior water use, giving the Bank better control over irrigation schedules and controller functionality. The system also monitors real-time weather. After a rain event, the system makes a correction to reduce irrigation watering. To date, Fifth Third has installed smart controllers at more than 250 locations. Managing Waste In the last three years, Fifth Third has reduced the amount of waste it sends to landflls by 1 million pounds, more than 17% from our 2018 baseline. Moving forward, we will work to expand our recycling and diversion eforts. Our new goal is to expand waste diversion from landflls to at least 75%. This commitment will require greater focus on ofce waste and expanded focus to new waste streams. With the ongoing construction and renovation of facilities across our portfolio, Fifth Third continues to focus on the management of its construction and demolition activities as a key part of its waste stream. Fifth Third has established diversion requirements for partners to ensure material is being managed responsibly. As a result, in 2021, more than 7 million pounds of construction and demolition waste was diverted from landflls for reuse. At our Madisonville campus in Cincinnati (our largest campus), we have instituted food waste composting as an additional waste mitigation strategy, resulting in thousands of pounds of organic waste diverted each year. Reducing Paper Fifth Third is committed to reducing the amount of paper we use, with a goal of reducing usage by 75% by 2030. While we recognize that paper remains a frequently used material for general ofce activities and in documenting and processing customer lending and fnance activities, we see opportunities for continued reduction in paper use. Fifth Third’s strategic priority to accelerate the digital transformation of both front ofce and back ofce activities will drive progress to our 2030 goal. Our focus on secure destruction and recycling of paper remains a priority. We recycled more than 8 million pounds of paper in 2021. Fifth Third is also taking steps to be more deliberate about the type of paper it uses. We recently shifted our ofce copy paper product selection to a product made from 30% post- Contents consumer recycled content and certifcation from the Forest Stewardship Council. The environmental impact* is estimated to save 1,860 trees, 150,000 gallons of water and 810,000 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent. The FSC certifcation also helps ensure that virgin paper we use is from responsibly managed forests. Mail in Recycling The past year also marked the start of a new retail recycling solution as a group of retail branches successfully piloted a mail-in program facilitated by recycling industry leader g2 Revolution. Through the program, cardboard boxes are mailed to each location in which to collect recyclables. Once full, the box is closed and mailed to the recycler. Mail-in recycling can be much more efcient than standard weekly collection, which typically requires a set pickup schedule, regardless of volume. The company ofsets the carbon emissions related to the return of materials, reducing the environmental impact of the process. With the success of this initiative, the Bank is exploring expanding it in 2022. Introduction Economic Environment Social Governance Fifth Third Named Hamilton County 2021 Most Outstanding Partner In recognition of the Bank’s waste reduction eforts, Fifth Third was recently recognized by Hamilton County R3Source, a division of the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services in Ohio, with a 2021 Most Outstanding Partner award. This award recognized several collaborative eforts between Fifth Third and Hamilton County, including hosting two signature events for Hamilton County R3Source at the Bank’s Madisonville campus: the distribution of community compost bins and rain barrels, and a household hazardous waste disposal event. As part of this partnership, Hamilton County R3Source was able to serve over 2,000 families, distribute 318 new compost bins and collect 95,380 pounds of hazardous waste for proper and safe disposal. Fifth Third also participated in a 2021 waste audit facilitated by the Hamilton County R3Source team at the Bank’s operations center in Cincinnati’s Madisonville neighborhood. *Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Paper Network Paper Calculator Version 4.0. For more information, visit papercalculator.org . 48