Problem
Global & Canadian Scale: Over 2 billion pounds of coffee grounds are generated globally each year, with an est. 100 million pounds in Canada alone! Ends up in landfills emitting methane, a greenhouse gas 21× more potent than CO₂, contributing to climate change.
Business Disposal Costs: Businesses pay disposal fees and miss out on upcycling opportunities when they discard coffee grounds, failing to leverage a valuable organic resource.
Solution
We upcycle used coffee grounds from local cafés into eco-friendly skincare products, giving waste a second life. Combining biodegradable ingredients with reusable mason jars, our scrubs form part of a circular system that diverts coffee grounds from landfills, reducing methane emissions. We partner with coffee shops to raise awareness about sustainable waste management and encourage customers to return jars for refills, promoting zero-waste practices in our community.
Our Impact
We all love coffee, but did you know that over 18 million tons of coffee grounds are wasted every year? After all, when you are done with your cup, what do YOU do with the grounds? All the grounds in landfills produces acidic leaching in the soil and methane, an equivalent of 810 million metric tons of CO₂, CO₂-equivalent emissions comparable to the yearly emissions of 175 million cars! What if we told you that your morning coffee could do more than just wake you up—it could help save the planet?"
Reducing Methane
Reducing CO₂ Emissions
Reducing CO₂
Diverting Coffee Grounds
1kg of coffe grounds -> produces 1.8kg of mathane
1kg of mathane = 25kg of C0₂ equivalent emssions
10kg of coffee grounds = 18kg CH₄ which equals 450kg of COze (CO2)
400 250ml body scrubs created > diverting 60kg of coffee grounds
2.7 Metric Tonnes of CO₂
equivalent emissions
=
Driving a car 10,800km
or
Planting 108 trees
Process
At Brewed Beauty, our process starts with sourcing repurposed coffee grounds directly from the University of Guelph’s 11+ campus coffee locations, supporting sustainability and community engagement. We ensure quality through sun-drying and heat-based sterilization before blending the grounds with natural ingredients like coconut oil, sugar, and essential oils. Finally, we package our products in eco-friendly, reusable mason jars—reinforcing our commitment to a circular economy and reducing waste.
01
Sourcing
With over 11+ locations serving coffee to over 30,000 students, the University of Guelph provides Brewed Beauty with the opportunity to make a positive impact on both the local and student community. Through a partnership with the University of Guelph, we’re able to source our repurposed coffee grounds directly from campus, turning what would otherwise be waste into a key ingredient in our products. This not only supports our commitment to sustainability, but also strengthens our connection with the community by promoting circular practices and reducing landfills contributions.
02
Quality Check
Before production begins, we carefully ensure our repurposed coffee grounds meet the highest quality standards. They undergo a heat-based sterilization process, following a sun-based drying process, to enhance both cleanliness and production performance.
03
Manufacturing
After the sterilization and drying process, the coffee grounds are then mixed with our other ingredients, containing the coconut oil, sugar, and essential oils.
04
Packaging
We then proudly package our products using eco-friendly and reusable mason jars. This allows us to continue our commitment to reducing waste through sustainability and circular economy.
Did you Know?
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Spent Coffee Grounds (SCGs) represent approximately 45% of waste from the whole process of coffee production.
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In 2021/2022, global coffee consumption reached what is equivalent to 170.3 million 60 kg bags of coffee beans.
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From 1kg of instant coffee produced, about 2kg of SCG is obtained.