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Government's pub-only business rates package is "poor decision based on politics", ACT parent company Bira says

29 Jan 2026

The government's decision to give pubs a 15% business rates discount while excluding independent retailers is a "poor decision based on politics rather than what is good for the local economy",... Read more…

Independent retailers demand equal treatment as Government prepares pub rates relief

9 Jan 2026

ACT parent company Bira has has demanded equal treatment for small shops after the government announced plans to water down business rate rises for pubs.
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Christmas and New Year message from ACT Director Jonathan Harrison

23 Dec 2025

An end of year message from Jonathan Harrison, Director of the ACT.
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Scottish Government urged to cut business rates for indie retailers

11 Dec 2025

ACT parent company Bira has called on the Scottish Government to follow Wales's example and introduce genuine business rates reductions for retail premises ahead of the Scottish Budget on 13... Read more…

Independent retailers to see rates bills soar by up to 15% despite government's "transformation" promises

2 Dec 2025

Independent retailers across the UK are facing business rates increases of up to 15% next year despite government promises of the "lowest tax rates since 1991", ACT parent company Bira has... Read more…

UK's E-Bike Positive campaign to be adopted by the BA & ACT

1 Dec 2025

As of Thursday 1st January 2026, the E-Bike Positive campaign will fall under the joint guardianship of the Bicycle Association (BA) and the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT).
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Cycle to work scheme escapes cap but ACT warns Budget fails cycle retailers on business rates and imports

26 Nov 2025

The ACT has welcomed the Government's decision not to impose a cap on the cycle to work scheme, calling it "common sense prevailing" after weeks of speculation threatened a vital sales tool for... Read more…

Independent retailers reject Black Friday as three-quarters refuse to participate

24 Nov 2025

More than three-quarters of independent retailers, including some of those in the cycling retail sector, are boycotting Black Friday this year, rejecting pressure... Read more…

Stop being a dumping ground for used e-bike batteries

11 Nov 2025

Used e-bike batteries are piling up because too many suppliers are failing to meet their legal obligations and it’s time to stop being polite about it, writes ACT Director Jonathan... Read more…

Independent retailers urge Chancellor - Boost business confidence or risk killing growth before it starts

7 Nov 2025

Britain's independent retailers, including those in the cycling retail sector, are calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to use the autumn budget to restore... Read more…

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The planet friendly guide for small businesses

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

Green cutleryStreet is a guide to helping smaller retailers & hospitality businesses work together to slash their carbon footprint and become more sustainable as quickly as possible.

Green Street know what it's like to be a small business - you have no time and you need to be an expert in everything. But, there are only so many balls you can juggle. We all know we need to be more sustainable, but where do we start, and what should we do?

So, Green Street have kept it as simple as possible. The Planet-friendly Guide has around 30 practical actions you can take, grouped under six easy-to-remember principles. Start doing these, and you'll make a difference to your business, your customers, your community and our planet.

How it helps you

Green Street have also chosen some actions based on the real-life experiences of retailers and people who have already tried to make their businesses greener.

If you do want to find out more about a particular action we have suggested some websites which you can look at as well as some examples of good things which other companies are doing.

Green Street have kept it simple and jargon free - our aim is that you don't need to use Google at all to understand what you need to do. Just in case, we have included a friendly jargon buster to help you work out some of the many technical terms that sometimes make this area difficult to understand.

Importantly, more and more people are looking to make personal changes so they can live more sustainably, and they are looking for companies to help them with this. The COVID pandemic has helped, not hindered, this desire - for instance, a poll at the end of 2020 found that 65% of people plan to be more mindful of the impact of their purchases, and yet half of UK consumers do not trust the product-related claims of companies at face value.

So Green Street believe that becoming greener will help you not only cut costs, but also increase sales as more people look for shops and businesses to help them live sustainable lives. We hope this Planet-friendly guide helps you take your next steps in doing just that for your customers.

The six planet friendly principles

The six planet friendly principles will help you navigate through our planet-friendly guide. Each principle has its own information and a set of actions you can take to help you make your business greener. Each action has guidance on what to do, how it will help your business thrive and where to go for extra help if you need it.

Just click on a principle to get started.

  1. Save energy and switch to renewables
  2. Minimise packaging
  3. Recycle and reuse
  4. Offer greener choices
  5. Work together
  6. Share what you learn
Find out more about the planet friendly guide here.

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If you have any other queries please contact us.