Our Story
Made from what others throw away.
2nd Ground was born from a simple belief — that waste is just a resource in the wrong place.
How It Started
I always noticed what others ignored.
Sustainability has always been part of my mindset. Growing up, I couldn't help but notice the pollution, the waste, the indifference of larger companies toward the planet they were profiting from. Something about that never sat right with me.
In 2015, while researching ways to recycle coffee grounds, I came across an article about coffee being used in skincare. That was it. The idea clicked immediately — upcycle the grounds, skip the plastic, make something genuinely good. 2nd Ground was born on a table in my Brooklyn apartment.
Eleven years on, we're still handcrafting every bar in Brooklyn, still partnering with Cafe Grumpy for our grounds, and now selling in over 20 states. But the mission hasn't changed — turn what gets thrown away into something worth keeping.
— Mark, Founder & Head Soap Maker
The Journey
How we got here.
It Starts in an Apartment
A pile of used coffee grounds, a Brooklyn kitchen table, and a hunch that waste was just a resource in the wrong place. The first bars were made by hand that year.
The Two-Sided Bar Is Patented
The U.S. Patent Office granted Patent No. 10,465,148 for the dual-layer design — coffee-ground scrub on one side, organic-oil cleanser on the other.
Cafe Grumpy Partnership
Partnered with iconic NYC coffee shop Cafe Grumpy to source our upcycled grounds directly.
Back in Business
Relaunched with renewed energy, rebuilt the brand from the ground up, and got back to making soap.
15 States & Growing
Sold in over 15 states across the US through wholesale partners, refilleries, and online.
30 New Wholesale Accounts
Added 30 new wholesale accounts, now selling in 20+ states and growing across the US.
Cold Process, Organic Formula
Upgraded to a fully cold process, organic oil formula — the best bar we've ever made.
Why It Matters
From single-use to circular.
We have an economic system that is fundamentally unsustainable. Single-use products, disposable packaging, take-make-waste — it's a model that was never going to work long term, and the planet is telling us that now.
2nd Ground is our small but determined contribution to a different kind of industrial revolution — one built on circularity, creativity, and care. Every bar we make is proof that the shift is possible. We just need more people to demand it.
Behind the Scenes
Handmade in Brooklyn.
Ready to make the switch?
Every bar you buy is a vote for a cleaner, more circular world.