L'Oréal USA’s Second New Jersey Facility is Awarded LEED® Certification

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Berkeley Heights, N.J. - March 23, 2011 - L’Oréal USA announced today that its Berkeley Heights administrative office, which is home to over 400 employees, has been awarded LEED® Gold.  Berkeley Heights is the company’s New Jersey headquarters and the second of L’Oréal USA’s facilities to receive LEED certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).  The company’s Franklin manufacturing plant was awarded LEED Silver for the expansion of its operations in December 2010.

LEED is an internationally-recognized green building certification system for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resource selection and indoor environmental quality.

“Sustainable buildings are an integral part of L’Oréal’s overall strategy to reduce its use of natural resources and impact on the planet,” said Pamela Gill Alabaster, Senior Vice President Sustainable Development & Public Affairs, L’Oréal USA.  “LEED is a best-in-class benchmark for sustainable building and our pursuit of LEED certification for new and renovated buildings will help us to meet our long-term sustainability goals.”

“By certifying its new administrative offices LEED Gold, L’Oréal USA has demonstrated a strong commitment to its employees’ health, comfort and well-being,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC.  “Its Berkeley Heights offices will serve as a showcase for high-performance, energy-efficient, healthy buildings, and an inspiration for others.”

The company’s commitment to creating sustainable buildings is reflected in both the Berkeley Heights and Franklin facilities.  The Berkeley Heights building features high energy performance windows, giving 90% of the building’s interior access natural daylight and views, reducing the need for artificial light; HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning) and lighting systems designed to maximize their energy performance; water-conserving plumbing fixtures serving to reduce the building’s overall water use by 30%; use of regionally- extracted materials and low emitting materials (adhesives, paint, carpet, coating); use of FSC-certified wood from renewable forests.  Additionally, during construction 75% of waste was diverted from the landfill.

The Franklin manufacturing facility expansion utilized sustainable materials in its construction including 70% post consumer recycled steel for the structural framing, 60% for decking, 33% post consumer recycled concrete for precast panels. In addition, the facility installed high efficiency lighting, occupancy sensors; day lighting, R26 insulation and heat harvested from compressors which, combined, have resulted in energy cost savings of 26% from baseline. The facility expansion also featured a bio-retention basin which collects 80% of runoff sediment removed naturally. During the construction of the Franklin expansion, 85% of waste was recycled.

L’Oréal has been recognized by Corporate Knights for being among the 100 most sustainable corporations in the world and by Climate Counts for its leadership in addressing climate change. Since the early 1990s, the company has engaged in a proactive policy of “source reduction” and material-vigilance to guide its packaging development.  In 2003 L’Oréal joined the UN Global Compact and since 2004 has published a sustainable development report to communicate its goals and achievements across its business operations.

About L’Oréal USA

L'Oréal USA, headquartered in New York City, with 2009 sales of over $4.6 billion and 9,800 employees, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L'Oréal SA, the world’s leading beauty company. In addition to corporate headquarters in New York, L'Oréal USA has Research and Innovation, Manufacturing and Distribution facilities across seven states, including New Jersey, Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, and Texas.  Since 2001, L’Oréal has been measuring its impact on global warming and joined the Global Compact in 2003, reinforcing its commitment to climate change. The company has been recognized by Corporate Knights for being among the 100 most sustainable corporations in the world and by Climate Counts for its leadership in addressing climate change.

L'Oréal's impressive portfolio of brands includes Lancôme, Giorgio Armani Beauty, Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, Viktor & Rolf, Diesel, Cacharel, L'Oréal Paris, Garnier, Vichy, La Roche-Posay, L'Oréal Professionnel, Kérastase and Shu Uemura Art of Hair, Maybelline New York, Soft-Sheen.Carson, Kiehl’s Since 1851, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Essie Cosmetics, Redken 5th Avenue NYC, Matrix, Mizani, Pureology, SkinCeuticals and Dermablend. For more information visit www.lorealusa.com.

U.S. Green Building Council
The USGBC community is transforming the way we build, design and operate our buildings for healthier places that save precious resources for people to live, work, learn and play in.  UGSBC is helping create buildings and communities that regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation.  Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Council is the driving force of the green building industry, which is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product by 2013. USGBC leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials, concerned citizens, teachers and students.  The USGBC community comprises 80 local chapters, 17,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 individuals who have earned LEED Professional Credentials.  Visit www.usgbc.org for more information. 

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