Environmental Policy Statement
At First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (the “Company”), our mission and our business strategy are based on the concept that in everything we do as a Company, we should always strive to benefit our customers, our shareholders and our employees, as well as the communities where we serve. We recognize the environmental challenges that face the world we live in and believe that doing our part in addressing them is not only the right thing to do but also our responsibility.
We are committed to operating our Company responsibly and understand that this creates long-term sustainable value for our Company by reducing costs, increasing revenue, reducing risks, enhancing our reputation, strengthening our communities, and helping us meet the expectations of our shareholders, our customers, our communities, as well as future generations.
To support this commitment, we will strive to:
- Take steps to understand the environmental risks and opportunities associated with our business practices and our products and services;
- Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility and continuously evaluate opportunities to enhance our processes; and
- Promote awareness and engage with our employees and customers regarding sustainability and our initiatives.
Energy Efficiency
We recognize that there are growing concerns to be energy efficient and the impact that this may have on the environment. These concerns, along with the potential physical impacts of climate change, may lead to new regulations, financial risks and reputational risks. Accordingly, we are committed to adopting practices to help mitigate these risks and identify opportunities.
To support this commitment, we will strive to:
- Evaluate methods to measure, monitor, and reduce our energy consumption;
- Evaluate opportunities to provide financial products and services to assist in the transition to energy efficient and environmentally sound alternatives; and
- Assess the risks that climate change poses to our operations, including regulatory, compliance, economic, and physical risks, and where necessary develop strategies and processes to manage such risks.
Resource Conservation
We recognize the environmental impact associated with our use of natural resources and the importance of resource efficiency and conservation. Several of the communities we serve have faced drought conditions where conservation of water is at a premium. Therefore, we strive to operate efficiently, reducing our reliance on natural resources, and wherever possible diverting our waste from landfills through recycling and reuse.
To support this commitment, we will endeavor to:
- Evaluate and identify opportunities to reduce the use of natural resources in our operations;
- Seek opportunities to expand access to recycling programs and the types of materials accepted for recycling;
- Seek to construct, retrofit, including LED lighting, and maintain branches and offices following design standards that minimize waste and improve environmental efficiency; and
- Engage employees and raise awareness about resource conservation and recycling to promote responsible behavior.
Governance, Transparency, and Reporting
The successful implementation of these commitments depends on good corporate governance and transparency about our efforts and progress.
To achieve this, we will strive to:
- Establish an environmental working group that includes key officers and employees whose purpose is to further our sustainability efforts;
- Regularly report to the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee of our Board of Directors on our environmental initiatives and progress; and
- Engage with external stakeholders, including our institutional shareholders, to solicit feedback and explore our opportunities for enhancement.