Fresh Rose Soap

2nd Ground Mark Guerino

Get To Know The Maker

Where are you from/where did you grow up?

I am originally from Massachusetts and moved to Brooklyn over 14 years ago. I love the feel and excitement of NYC. As soon as I took the leap to move to the big city I fell in love with it.

Why did you start your business?

I started my business because I have always been passionate about recycling and reducing waste. One day I was looking up ways to recycle coffee, and I came across an article about how coffee grounds were being used in skincare, and I thought to myself "Why not use the old grounds?" After a few soap experiments and prototypes, I founded 2nd Ground one month later. Since 2015, I aim to inspire others to rethink "waste" and to look for innovative ways to combat our trash problem, by returning used materials into our economic system.

How does your business connect to Brooklyn?

My business is connected to Brooklyn, because it IS Brooklyn. Every soap is handmade in Bushwick, and post-brewed espresso grounds are collected from Brooklyn coffee shops and restaurants. We're showing the world that small changes make big impacts, one soap at a time.