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The Sustainability Challenge 2019 (SC 2019) is the third series of the competition that was initiated by UKM-YSD Chair for Sustainable Development: Zero Waste Technology with the objective of exploring and developing innovative ideas on sustainability of commodity crops industry reflecting on SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The Sustainability Challenge 2019: Innovation and Invention Competition was co-organized with Research Center for Sustainable Process Technology (CESPRO), Academic Research on Palm Oil Sustainability (ARPOS) and MPOB-UKM Endowed Chair in Palm Oil Industry Development for a Sustainable Economy, with a theme “Commodity Crops: Innovation towards Sustainability and Circular Economy”. On 12th December 2019, out of 26 teams participated in their final pitching session, our IIUM team obtained the 2nd place for the challenge with a cash prize of RM2000 with their invention called Bio-Fibrous Filler which is made from empty fruit bunch (EFB) waste to produce gloves. 

Their invention aims to combat the waste management and disposal problems in the palm oil industry by finding another alternative for a million tonnes of palm oil wastes that are generated annually in Malaysia. Green Ninja from IIUM consisted of three postgraduate students from Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Kulliyyah of Engineering who are: 1. Mohamad Firdaus Omar 2. Nurjehan Ezzatul Ahmad 3. Nurfatin Azma Abdul Jalal 

Another IIUM team, Wave, has also won the consolation prize with a cash prize of RM500 with his invention entitled Microwave-assisted Extraction of Virgin Coconut Oil from Solid Coconut Waste where a lab scale semi-automatic MAE extraction system was designed to extract the remaining oil from the solid coconut waste (SCW) and this method would help in the minimization of waste by the coconut industry and contribute to the lucrativeness of coconut. Team Wave from IIUM consisted of only one postgraduate student from Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Kulliyyah of Engineering, Br Mohd Haffizi Bin Hasni.