L’Oréal USA on Tuesday said it is going to build a 250,000-square-foot Research & Innovation Center in Clark that will bring together more than 550 employees, with plans of replacing its existing facilities that it has occupied for the past 60 years.
The $140 million development project, currently under construction, represents the most significant investment in an R&I facility in the company’s history. It is expected to be fully operational in 2024.
With a strong focus on beauty innovations across the spectrum of hair, skin and makeup categories, the new R&I Center will strengthen L’Oréal’s capacity to advance the scientific and technological research behind the products and services aimed at meeting the diverse beauty expectations of consumers in the U.S. and worldwide.
“This historic investment in our new Research & Innovation Center is an important milestone for L’Oréal USA, as we continue to put science at the heart of all that we do to serve our American consumers with more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable beauty products,” David Greenberg, CEO and president of L’Oréal USA said. “New Jersey has served as our scientific hub here in the U.S. for over six decades, and we are excited to expand our footprint in the state and bring all our scientific teams together in a beautiful and modern new research facility.”
L’Oréal said this ambitious real estate project advances its commitment to offering each consumer the best innovations in terms of quality, efficacy and safety, while respecting the planet.
“This significant project represents L’Oréal’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a presence in New Jersey, and I am thrilled their company has chosen to continue investing in the future of our state,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a prepared statement.
Agile workspaces and modular labs will be designed to strengthen internal partnerships, creating a comprehensive ecosystem that allows for greater interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. The site will also house the capacity to scale formulations through a dedicated team, which will accelerate the creation and development of new products. The R&I Center will also be the home for external partnerships and scientific collaborations under L’Oréal’s Open Innovation strategy.
“Our new campus will serve as the research & innovation epicenter for our North America scientific teams across product innovation, development and testing,” explains Sanford Browne, North America president of research & innovation at L’Oréal. “The U.S. is a unique market, and our strong presence in this highly collaborative environment will empower us to provide an even higher standard of quality, efficacy and safety for our consumers. With cutting-edge science and technology, advanced digital tools and data and a focus on green chemistry, we will continue to invent the future of beauty.”
Reinforcing the company’s “L’Oréal for the Future” sustainability commitment, the new R&I Center will be designed to the highest sustainability standards by reducing energy use, resource consumption and waste production while developing multipurpose indoor and outdoor green space to support the area’s ecology and biodiversity.
