Inside L’Oréal USA's West Coast HQ: Where Sustainability and Well-Being Go Platinum

In El Segundo, California—just a few miles from the beach and steps from the heart of the beauty industry—L’Oréal USA’s West Coast corporate office is making global sustainability history. Home to dynamic brands like NYX Professional Makeup, Urban Decay, Youth to the People, Pulp Riot, IT Cosmetics and SkinBetter Science, the building is now the first in the L’Oréal Groupe portfolio to achieve three platinum-level certifications for sustainability and well-being.

This Earth Month, we’re spotlighting the space not just as a workplace, but to show how beauty can lead in environmental innovation and employee-centered design.

A Triple Platinum Milestone

L’Oréal’s El Segundo office recently earned LEED Platinum certifications in both Interior Design & Construction (ID+C) and Existing Buildings: Operations + Maintenance (EBOM)—alongside the prestigious WELL Platinum Certification from the International WELL Building Institute. Together, these distinctions place the site at the forefront of green building design and human-centered work environments.

“This achievement is more than a milestone for the building—it reflects our belief that environmental responsibility and employee well-being go hand in hand,” said Marissa Pagnani McGowan, Chief Sustainability Officer, North America, L’Oréal Groupe.

It also marks a first for the beauty industry: L’Oréal is the only beauty company in the corporate category to receive WELL Platinum Certification to date.

Designing for People and Planet

The facility’s high performance goes far beyond aesthetics. Every corner of the building has been intentionally designed to reduce impact, support employee well-being, and encourage movement, creativity, and connection. A few key highlights:

LEED Platinum in Action:

• A 330kW solar array offsets nearly 80% of the building’s energy usage during business hours.
• Low-flow water fixtures help reduce potable water (water suitable for human consumption) usage by 40%.
• The office incorporates recycled construction materials and maintains a robust recycling program as part of our Zero Waste goals.

WELL Platinum Highlights:

• Air quality is maintained through enhanced ventilation and filtration systems.
• Natural light floods the space thanks to generous windows and skylights—complemented by task lighting for individual needs.
• Wellness-first design includes fitness facilities, ergonomic workstations, visible staircases, wellness rooms, and access to healthy food options 

A Model for the Future of Beauty Workplaces

While certifications are a powerful marker of progress, the real story lies in the way the space functions day to day. Employees are holding meetings in sunlit common areas, stepping into wellness rooms for a moment of calm, or using the on-site fitness space between brainstorms.

"Having access to plants, natural sunlight, and even a garden area really enhances my focus and creativity. It feels less like a traditional office and more like a collaborative, inspiring space,” says Ali Partie, AVP and Head of Sustainability at L’Oréal West. “I genuinely feel more connected to nature during my workday, which makes a huge difference in my overall well-being."

The El Segundo site reflects a broader ambition across the L’Oréal Groupe: to embed sustainability, innovation, and well-being into every part of the business—from product development to packaging, and even the office spaces where ideas are born.

As Earth Month serves as a global reminder of the responsibility we carry for the future of our planet, L’Oréal’s West Coast office shows what’s possible when purpose drives design.