Go Green
We believe cottage life and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. You're out here because you care about the waters, woods, and environment around your cottage. The products we choose should respect that.
That means offering cottagers sustainable materials that genuinely hold up. We source products and packaging that reduce waste and environmental harm, and that actually last. When well maintained, the most sustainable product is one you don't need to replace every season.
A product earns this mark by meeting at least one of these standards:
- Phosphate-Free — phosphates accelerate algae growth and deplete oxygen in lakes and rivers.
- Biodegradable — breaks down naturally without leaving harmful residue in soil or water.
- Lake-Safe — formulated and verified safe for use near freshwater lakes and waterways.
- Sustainably Sourced — raw materials produced in ways that preserve the resource.
- Reduced Packaging — minimal, recyclable, or compostable.
What we won't carry: products containing phosphates or phosphonates, triclosan or triclocarban, nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), chlorine bleach for waterway use, or microplastics and microbeads. If it can't pass a basic lake-safety test, it doesn't make our store, regardless of how well it sells elsewhere.
We hope to provide products and guidance on practices for you and your guests to better ensure things like septic system management and health, which will not only help the environment but also extend the useful life and performance of your system between inspections.
We don't claim to be chasing every eco trend. We do strive to do our part to help maintain clean water, air, and a cottage environment your great grandchildren can still enjoy far into the future.
The products we offer earn this mark because they are genuinely better for the lake and the land it sits on.
This is all part of our Better Tools standard: quality that holds up to real Canadian cottage conditions, without costing the environment along the way.
As our supplier network grows, so will this collection. Here's what qualifies today.
