APU Students Turn Kitchen Waste Into a National Win at the James Dyson Award 2025

Their project will go on to compete against top entries across the globe.

Published 19 Sep 2025

Three students from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) have taken the title of National Winner of the prestigious James Dyson Award 2025 in Malaysia. Their winning project, UNBLOK, tackles one of the country's most pressing environmental issues in a surprisingly simple yet impactful way.

Food waste and used cooking oil make up between 31% and 45% of Malaysia’s municipal solid waste, often leading to clogged pipes, water pollution and even urban flooding. To address this issue, the students designed UNBLOK, a bio-based filter designed to stop food scraps and oil from entering drainage systems. What makes it stand out is that it’s made using agricultural by-products, effectively turning waste into a solution for waste. This introduces a low-cost, eco-friendly solution which aligns directly with Malaysia’s broader goals to reduce landfill use and encourage green technologies.

The winning team, consisting of Ong Jing Rou, Natalie Tham Li Thing and Ng Wen Kai, are students in the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Industrial Design programme at APU’s School of Media, Arts & Design (SoMAD). They developed UNBLOK under the guidance of Mr Eekang Ooi, a Certified Industrial Designer (CIDe). Their innovation not only earned them national recognition but also the James Dyson Award cash prize of RM27,800.

Their project will now advance to the international round, competing against top entries from around the world. This marks another milestone for APU’s SoMAD, which has built an impressive legacy in the James Dyson Award. The school has previously secured National Winner titles in 2020, 2021, 2024, and now 2025, with a runner-up placement in 2022.

Reflecting on their achievement, the team shared, “Winning the National Award is a tremendous encouragement. It affirms the urgency of tackling food waste and pollution and shows that design can be a powerful tool for change. We hope UNBLOK will inspire others to view waste not as a problem, but as an opportunity for innovation.”

Ms Debbie Liew Pooi Kuan, Head of SoMAD, highlighted the school’s commitment to meaningful innovation, “At SoMAD, we believe in design with purpose. Every project we nurture is about more than aesthetics; it is about problem-solving and impact. The success of UNBLOK reflects the dedication of our students and staff to sustainability and innovation. It is a proud moment for APU, and it strengthens our resolve to keep shaping solutions that matter.”

UNBLOK is more than just a student project — it’s a timely and practical response to real-world problems. As the project moves on to compete at the international level of the James Dyson Award, APU has its sights set on empowering students to become changemakers in the field of sustainable design.

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