L’Oréal Groupe invests USD 160M to build R&I center in New Jersey

USA – L’Oréal Groupe, a French multinational specializing in personal care products, has invested USD 160 million to construct its new North America Research & Innovation (R&I) Center in Clark, New Jersey.

The Center collaborates with leading academics, biotech firms, and startups in the U.S. to develop sustainable, inclusive, and personalized beauty innovations tailored to diverse consumer needs.

The center marks a significant milestone in the company’s 70-year history in the United States and reaffirms its economic and workforce commitment in the market. 

This research centre is nearly 250,000 square feet, making it L’Oréal’s largest outside of France.

Barbara Lavernos, Deputy CEO of L’Oréal Groupe, in charge of Research, Innovation, and Technology, said, “This Center embodies L’Oréal’s uniquely end-to-end innovation model, from upstream Advanced Research on new breakthrough ingredients to the downstream development of formulas ready for scale-up to deliver high-performance, safe, and responsible beauty solutions.”

As part of L’Oréal’s global R&I ecosystem, the Center complements R&I hubs in France, Brazil, South Africa, India, China, and Japan.

It represents a significant, long-term investment in the U.S. and local market economy and workforce.

The R&I Center employs over 600 skilled scientists, engineers, and researchers dedicated to product innovation, development, and testing to create relevant, high-quality, and safe beauty products.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said, “I am excited that L’Oréal has chosen to continue investing in the future of New Jersey and is cementing the company’s presence in the Garden State with today’s grand opening—creating jobs that will boost our state’s economy.”

Environmental responsibility is a core element of the new R&I Center’s design that is in keeping with the company’s ‘L’Oréal for the Future’ sustainability commitments. 

Its sustainability highlights include 10,000 solar panels,  an eco-retention pond for stormwater management, which meet 70% of the facility’s energy needs, and employee-led gardening and composting initiatives that create a green workspace.

Meanwhile, the  R&I Center in North America plays a pivotal role in sustaining and growing L’Oréal’s portfolio of iconic American brands such as Maybelline, CeraVe, Redken and Kiehl’s, reinforcing the company’s long-standing presence in the U.S. market.

Key features of this center include a 26,000-square-foot modular laboratory, a consumer center for product testing and co-creation (with a capacity for up to 400 daily consumers), and an on-site mini factory to scale up final formulations prior to full-scale production.

The continuous innovation and product excellence supported by the center reinforce the long-standing presence and reputation of L’Oréal’s brands in the beauty and cosmetics market, driving brand loyalty and market share.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.