Construction is underway on L’Oréal USA’s new 250,000-square-foot research and innovation center in Clark, as depicted in this rendering. — Courtesy: L’Oréal
By Joshua Burd
L’Oréal USA has unveiled plans for a new $140 million research and innovation center in Clark, where it’s replacing facilities that it has occupied in the area for more than six decades.
The cosmetics giant said the nearly 250,000-square-foot project, which is under construction, represents the most significant investment in a research and innovation facility in its history. The new campus will strengthen L’Oréal’s capacity to advance the scientific and technological research behind its products and services for consumers in the U.S. and worldwide, focusing on beauty innovations across the spectrum of hair, skin and makeup categories while pioneering research through fields such as green sciences and beauty tech.
The company, a fixture along Terminal Avenue in the Union County township, expects the new facility to be fully operational in 2024.
“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,” said David Greenberg, CEO and president of L’Oréal USA. “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.”
In an announcement Tuesday, the company said the project will bring together more than 550 employees across all areas of the company’s North America Research & Innovation Division, from advanced research to evaluation and product development. Plans call for agile workspaces and modular labs designed to strengthen internal partnerships, creating a comprehensive ecosystem that allows for greater interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
Additionally, the site will also house the capacity to scale formulations through a dedicated team, which will accelerate the creation and development of new products, according to a news release. Additionally, the new R&I Center will be the home for external partnerships and scientific collaborations under L’Oréal’s Open Innovation strategy.
“New Jersey is home to the largest concentration of scientists and engineers per square mile in the United States, which makes our state a prime location for businesses seeking top talent to help them remain on the cutting edge of innovation and development,” said Gov. Phil Murphy said. “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.”
The company added that the project is another step in its L’Oréal for the Future sustainability initiative, citing design elements that reduce energy use, resource consumption and waste production while developing multipurpose indoor and outdoor green space to support the area’s ecology and biodiversity.
“Our new campus will serve as the Research & Innovation epicenter for our North America scientific teams across product innovation, development, and testing,” said Sanford Browne, North America president of research and 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.”
