Malaysia’s UNBLOK innovation breaks into the James Dyson Award 2025 Global Top 20

The team shared that the idea stemmed from feeling frustrated with a clogged sink. Once they delved deeper into research, they realised how significant this issue is for urban environments. “Fatbergs cause flooding, damage infrastructure and put sanitation workers at risk. We wanted a solution that wasn’t just effective, but also environmentally responsible. That’s why we turned to palm fibre—it’s natural, biodegradable and locally abundant,” the team added.

Grease build-up is a major yet often overlooked urban issue, responsible for up to 70 per cent of sewer blockages and costly infrastructure damage. Recognising this, the UNBLOK team turned to a uniquely Malaysian resource: palm fibre, an abundant agricultural by-product. Their invention sits neatly under the sink, capturing FOG before it hardens in pipes. Once saturated, the filter core can be composted or repurposed into biofuel or fertiliser; this creates a closed-loop ecosystem for waste management.

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What began with the frustration of a clogged sink evolved into a year-long journey of prototyping using real kitchen waste. After testing fibres like coconut husk and sugarcane bagasse, palm fibre proved most effective. The team also introduced lateral water flow and a mesh support layer to ensure smooth drainage without compromising absorption—proving that sustainability can be seamlessly engineered into daily life.