Space Exploration | Walking into the China Headquarters of L'Occitane Group Address: Shanghai, Chin

Space Exploration | Walking into the China Headquarters of L'Occitane Group

Address: Shanghai, China
Time: 2023
Keywords: Office Environment Design, Office Furniture, Cosmetics, Shanghai, China, Brand Building, Provence, Sustainable Development, Multiculturalism
Visiting the Shanghai headquarters of L'Occitane Group in China: How office environment design interprets brand DNA

In 2023, after being awarded the B Corp certification by the L'Occitane Group, we visited the L'Occitane Group's headquarters in Shanghai, China. During this romantic visit, we gained a deep understanding of how this cosmetics giant integrates office environment design, sustainable development concepts, and multiculturalism into daily life, creating a unique brand building space.

Office Environment Design: Integration of Provence Style and Green Ecology

Stepping into the office space on the 21st floor of L'Occitane Group's headquarters in China, it feels like instantly traveling to Provence in southern France. The classic arch design, the use of clay bricks, and the presentation of brick and wood structures all exude a strong Southern French atmosphere. The vibrant plants that can be seen everywhere in the space perfectly blend this romance with nature.

Olive trees, lemon trees, and other plants from Provence are embellished in the office area. Every night, fill lights simulate sunlight to meet the needs of plants, giving the entire space a natural, green, and relaxing immersive experience. The selection of these plants is not only for decoration, but also stems from the group's mission to focus on biodiversity, extending the concept of sustainable development from products to office environments.

The choice of office furniture also reflects the adherence to environmentally friendly materials. From partitions to carpets, from tables and chairs to decorations, all soft furnishing cooperative brands are "zero carbon" enterprises, and the selected carpets, yarns, etc. are all made of recycled sustainable materials. This attention to detail makes the entire office space a vivid display of the brand's philosophy.

Sustainable Development: From Office Space to Global Strategy Practice

Jovi from the SDMM department of L'Occitane Group shared that this renovation space adheres to the group's mission of "reducing resource waste" and adheres to two principles in designing and selecting materials: zero carbon emissions and sustainable development. Not only do we choose environmentally friendly raw materials, but the overall design also considers future reuse. Whether the group expands or relocates, many materials can be reused, truly achieving resource conservation throughout the entire lifecycle.

This persistence in sustainable development is precisely the embodiment of the core values of L'Occitane as a pioneer in high-quality sustainable beauty and health products. The group is committed to investing in communities, respecting biodiversity, reducing resource waste, and finding sustainable solutions to create a better and healthier planet. As a certified B CorporationTM mutual benefit enterprise, L'Occitane has joined a global community of like-minded companies committed to creating an inclusive, fair, and sustainable economic environment.

Multiculturalism: Creating an Inclusive and Symbiotic Office Environment

Even from the HR department of L'Occitane Group emphasizes that a corporate culture of "diversity, fairness, and inclusivity" not only inspires employee creativity, improves performance and consumer satisfaction, but also drives company development decisions. This cultural concept is fully reflected in the design of the headquarters office space.

The conference room named after "diversity", "fairness", and "inclusiveness", the warm and comfortable "mommy room", and the "massage room" for relieving work pressure all demonstrate attention to the needs of employees in every detail. Even stated that only when employees feel fair and inclusive can they thrive, and only when the company culture is sufficiently diverse and inclusive, can the enterprise have long-term development potential. This people-oriented concept extends from the office environment to all aspects of enterprise management.

Brand Matrix: Diversified Practice of Sustainable Beauty Concept

As a globally renowned cosmetics group, L'Occitane operates in 90 countries/regions and has 3000 retail outlets, including over 1300 self operated stores. Its high-quality beauty brand portfolio that supports organic and natural ingredients has its own unique features:

L'OCCITANE en Provence, as the core brand of the group, was founded in Provence, South France in 1976, adhering to the concept of "we are the cultivators of nature", planting and cultivating natural treasure plants, and creating products that make people feel warm and safe.

Melvita was founded by a beekeeper in 1983 in the Ard è che region of France, focusing on the development of recyclable products and environmental protection. It is a pioneer in organic skincare and pure beauty.

ELEMIS, as a British skincare lifestyle brand, officially entered China in July 2020 and became the first brand of L'Occitane Group to obtain B Corp certification in 2023, perfectly combining aromatherapy with scientific skincare.

Grow Alchemist was founded in Melbourne in 2008, driven by nature and designed for efficacy, advocating the efficient and classic three-stage skincare philosophy.

In addition, innovative venture capital studio OBRATORI and beauty technology startup DUOLAB are also affiliated with the L'Occitane Group, demonstrating the group's innovative vitality in the field of sustainable beauty.

From the office environment design of its Shanghai headquarters in China to the layout of its global business, L'Occitane Group interprets its vision of "natural improvement" through practical actions. Here, office furniture is no longer just a decoration, but a carrier of sustainable concepts; Office space is not only a workplace, but also a microcosm of brand culture. This approach of integrating brand building into daily life may be the key to maintaining the competitiveness of L'Occitane in the global cosmetics market.