Ethical Christmas businesses making a mark in challenging conditions

Emma Conyngham and Rahila Sayed from Waste Free Celebrations will be closing the NZ online shop next year to focus on the US market. (Image: Waste Free Celebrations)

Cécile Meier

Tue, 17 Dec 2024

Waste Free Celebrations is a classic business that started in the garage and has gone big. In winter 2020, NZ was in and out of lockdowns, and Emma Conyngham wanted to earn enough money to hire a campervan for her family's summer holiday. With zero business experience and minimal cash, Conyngham bought some Christmas fabric to sew into reusable gift bags in her Wānaka garage to sell at the local market and online. Soon, she couldn’t keep up with the orders. “So I did what anyone with zero experience but...

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